Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Top Ten Tuesday - An Ideal ROI
I figured it would be worthwhile doing an optimistic list this week.In an ideal world the Irish people would have a United Ireland where they shared a nation-state with their fellow compatriots but as we know, despite the majority of the island wanting this, that is not what we have.
However, 26 of the 32 Irish counties have autonomy, although I don't think this autonomy is being utilised as well as it could be. With that being said, this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday is about my views on an ideal Republic of Ireland. So without further ado:
1. Northern representation in the Seanad - This was in the works ages ago yet it has conveniently fallen by the wayside. In my opinion, politicians from north of the border should have the option of having speaking rights in the Oireachtas. If not in the Dáil, then in the Seanad. It makes sense.
2. All-Ireland economy - In an ideal ROI, we would have an all-Ireland economy. This would be a good way to highlight to unionists the benefits of all-Ireland cooperation. The British Secretary of State Peter Hain wants to see it happen and so do I.
3. All-Ireland Presidential elections - I think it's high time that people in the North were allowed to vote in Irish Presidential elections like the rest of the island of Ireland. President Mary McAleese was born in the north of Ireland and is the President yet people from the North can't vote for her! This is farcical and needs to be sorted out.
4. All-Ireland police force - There should be an all-Ireland police force because recent events in the North show that political policing is still very evident and even the British government seem to be realising this of late.
5. British citizenship - I think granting British citizenship rights to people in the Republic who desire it would be a good idea and a great way of showing unionists how far the Republic has come. Again, it would highlight the benefits of greater links north and south.
6. Leave the EU - In an ideal ROI, we would be free of the hellhole that is the EU which has the audacity to castigate Ireland for using UN courts instead of EU ones! If only we could get away from these bumbling bureaucrats.
7. Commonwealth membership - In an ideal ROI, we would be once again members of the Commonwealth as this would be a great way of reaching out to the British culture on the island of Ireland.
8. NATO membership - In an ideal ROI, we would abandon the joke that is Ireland's 'tradition of neutrality' which is nothing but a great big sham. It would be a big weight off Irish shoulders.
9. Visit from Queen - In an ideal ROI, the British Queen would be set to make her historic first visit to the Irish Republic because at present, this visit still doesn't look like it's happening. It should happen as it would go down well throughout the island and would improve relations north and south a great deal.
10. No Cork - In an ideal ROI, Cork would be cut off and allowed to sail away into the Atlantic somewhere.
So there you have it. The ten hallmarks of an ideal Republic of Ireland. Feel free to comment on my choices or to offer up some of your own.
# posted by United Irelander @ 12:37 AM 
© 2008 United Irelander.
