CIVIC SOCIETY MUST PREVENT THE DEATH OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
It is time for the guarantors of the GFA to put in place protocols to secure the rights, opportunities and identity of those people of the north of Ireland who see themselves as both Irish and EU citizens, says CONAL McFEELY
As the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) approaches it appears that the accord is now under its greatest threat. It must not be allowed to be even furthered undermined, by either Brexit and the actions of political unionism. Civic society must now stop the death of the GFA.
Extreme elements within the pro-Brexit camp have declared they are anti the GFA and the DUP have aligned themselves to this extreme grouping. The collapse of the recent talks process by the DUP on the issue of citizens rights is further evidence if needed that political unionism represented by the DUP has never bought into the spirit and valves that underpin the GFA, regarding the diversity of all the people living in the north of Ireland, in their identity, traditions and that there should be - full respect for equality for all citizens, and parity of esteem and just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities.
The GFA recognises the birthright of all people in the north of Ireland to identify themselves and to be accepted as Irish or British, or both. The question therefore remains, why were the recent talks allowed to collapse on the issue of citizens rights?
It is important to remind ourselves that under the terms of the GFA all parties affirmed their commitment to mutual respect, civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone. And in particular the parties affirmed the following:
“ The right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity”.
Again the question needs answered why in the year 2018, DUP’s political unionism collapsed the talks on the question of citizens rights?
It is important to note that, as a signatory to the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the British government, in relation to the Irish language, under the GFA were to:
- Take resolute action to promote the Irish language
- Facilitate and encourage the use of the language in speeches and writing in public and private life where there is appropriate demand.
Clearly, given the current political impasse there is urgent need for a proper Bill of Rights as envisaged within the GFA. Society here needs this to overcome and tackle the elephant in the room that we all know is sectarianism.
If the GFA is to survive its 20th Anniversary then the time is right for the Irish and British Governments as the co-guarantors of the GFA to put in place the necessary protocols as originally envisaged within the GFA for the rights, opportunities, and identity that come with citizenship for the people of the north of Ireland who see themselves as both Irish and EU citizens. Such rights are in line with the guarantees of equality under the GFA.
Finally, we must remember that rights were central to the peace process and the GFA of April 1998, now is the time to implement these rights if not the the extreme elements of the Brexit camp and the DUP will be allowed to undermine the values and principles that underpins the GFA.
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