https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd9djjqe9j9o
"If we don't have the Presbyterians in Ulster on our side in a new Ireland, we are definitely screwed."
Former Sinn Féin executive minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir believes there will be a border poll and that constitutional change is coming in Ireland.
But he says unionist engagement is important.
"Every time I meet a unionist, what do they want to talk about? They want to talk about a united Ireland," he told BBC News NI's Red Lines podcast.
"Either they're afraid of it, or they're not afraid of it."
'Unionists are engaging'
The former Lord Mayor of Belfast, who left frontline politics in 2019, added: "Or what will it mean for their business, or what will it mean for their culture or their sport?
"So the reality is that unionists are engaging with the issue".
Map of IrelandImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said he believed a new Ireland was possible, even if he may not live to see it
On the specifics of whether or not constitutional change will happen, he couldn't have been clearer: "There will be a border poll.
"And, by the way, I'm not in a big hurry because this is only going in one direction and we want to take as many people with us as possible.
"I don't even know if I'll live to see it. My father lived to 74 – I'm 64. But there will be a united Ireland."
'We've been through a nightmare'
There was, however, a shot across the bows of his fellow nationalists and republicans.
The onus will be on them, he warned, to make everyone feel comfortable in a new constitutional arrangement – and that will mean respecting unionists' British identity, being prepared to discuss what a future Irish flag and anthem might look like, and even being prepared to accept some kind of continuing devolved role for Stormont in a new 32-county state.
"Everything has to be on the table," he said. "Respect, social justice, reconciliation."
Mark wearing blue blazer and light coloured trousers sits beside a table across from Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, wearing blue suit and salmon coloured tie. BBC cameras are seen in the foreground
Image caption,
Mr Ó Muilleoir reflected on his political career during an interview with Mark Carruthers
During the podcast interview, Mr Ó Muilleoir recalled a trip to Cork with his "great friend" Maurice Kincaid, who founded the East Belfast Partnership, that made him pause for thought.
"We were sitting at the end of the night after going to the theatre – we were trying to bring a play to Belfast – having a glass of wine.
"And he said: 'You know, maybe 30 years of this instead of 30 years of bombs might have been more productive to your cause!' And he said it tongue-in-cheek.
"But there's some truth in that. We've been through a nightmare. So maybe. I've a long way to go continuing to engage with unionists, trying to say to them: things will be better."
The former politician, who served as finance minister, is now focussing on his business interests in Ireland and the United States.
He also told Red Lines about the impact the early years of the Troubles had on him as a teenager growing up in west Belfast, his many years as a Belfast city councillor and the autonomy his party gave him to make decisions as a minister in the Stormont Executive.
by HeWasDeadAllAlong
13 comments
i’d worry more about what the entire South thinks first.
Am Protestant, giving support
Remain to be convinced it’s not just for some utopian ideal and that it won’t be more of the same.
He’s 100% right. It needs to be about making and ensuring peace rather than one side winning.
I would like each province to be like the North’s houses in Game of Thrones in a Republic Senate like the Star Wars prequel trilogy
United Europe, one flag one anthem leave all this nationalism behind us.
You ll not be seeing it either way wee marty o millionaire mo chara!!
Correct. UI also screwed without a plan also.
Absolutely,I 100% agree this idea of a united ireland is not going to be the Republican “utopia”as some have put it and understandably afraid or anxious Protestants will have to be accommodated and that means keeping Stormont as the article says.A lot of Republicans wont like this idea,many Republicans have been banished for having this view as with more extreme republicans,they will see stormont as an integral part of the british administration in this land,others will see it as a small concession to gaining our territories back and allowing the PUL to feel confident knowing they are not being swallowed up by Dublin and their voices silenced allowing them some sort of self determination within a new Ireland.
The next 15/20 years will be a great time to be alive as we move towards this.
There is ample time between now and any prospective border poll to increase work on connecting and cooperating north-south on stuff that we’re already cooperating on.
Areas like farming, health, transport and comms infrastructure, tourism and waterways should and can be areas that will build trust with those from traditional unionist backgrounds. Stepping these initiatives up is not a huge ask, and with trade booming between North and South their all win-wins in any eventuality.
Absolutely true, it needs to be a country for all. Otherwise what’s the point, everyone should feel equal.
We’re living in a place at the moment where we’re arguing over street language signs being in Irish, people playing GAA etc at this very moment. I wouldn’t want anyone from a protestant background feeling they weren’t welcome.
Bit arrogant from SF if they think that is the only stumbling block. They can’t guarentee people a better standard of living and that tops politics for most people.
I’ve been watching Polysee on youtube & his general theme on a number of issues seems to be decentralisation of power from Dublin, dissolution of quangos & a return of power (in health education & housing etc) to local authorities. I think this is a good idea for a few reasons but specific to this post, the idea that Dublin rule wouldn’t be as prevalent in regions would make UI more attractive as there’d be more regional autonomy on important issues. Also each region would become a boiling pot of policy where good ideas rise, rather then the current inefficient top-down system we have in both Ireland & the UK.