The Ancient Order of Hibernians has welcomed the Fine Gael announcement of its intention to put forward an Irish unity blueprint.
Said AOH National Freedom for All Ireland Chair Martin Galvin in a statement: “The Ancient Order of Hibernians welcomes the announcement by Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris that Fine Gael will publish a 'blueprint for a unified island, especially in light of the explanation by Minister Neale Richmond, on RTE Morning Ireland, that this means a ‘united Ireland.'
“The AOH is, of course, completely independent of Fine Gael or any Irish political party, but encourages initiatives by all nationalist political parties aimed at securing the referendum to achieve Irish reunification.
“America, with key AOH and Irish American support, played a leading role in reaching the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the 1968-98 conflict between Irish Republicans and the British by providing a peaceful democratic means to achieve Irish reunification.
“The Good Friday Agreement provides that it is for the people of Ireland alone to exercise their right of national self-determination 'without external impediment.' It, however, contains the fundamental external impediment of giving a British secretary exclusive power to deny a constitutional referendum, by simply refusing to acknowledge that a six county majority might vote to live in a united Ireland.
“Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there have been major nationalist advances, yet British officials refuse to acknowledge any changing demographics. In Keir Starmer’s view, a vote on Irish reunification 'is not even on the horizon.' British officials even refuse to say what benchmarks nationalists must meet.
“The refusal to announce criteria for a vote prevents meaningful steps towards reconciliation. No Unionist political leader will risk discussing guarantees of equal citizenship for his constituents in a united Ireland, while crown officials say there is no prospect of Britain allowing a border poll on the horizon.
“The AOH, since its founding in 1836, has been deeply committed and constitutionally mandated 'to aid and advance by all legitimate means the aspirations of the Irish people for complete and absolute independence.' Irish reunification also remains the 'firm will of the Irish nation' under the Irish Constitution.
“The interests of all Irish people will always be better served by a 32 county government acting solely in the interests of the Irish people as a whole, rather than have policies for six Irish counties made in London in English interests, with negative repercussions north and south.
“We have welcomed important statements by former Taoiseach and Fine Gael party leader Leo Varadkar, which advanced Irish reunification and hope that the upcoming Fine Gael blueprint will follow in that spirit.”
