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| Volume 56 Number 20, June 27, 2026 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
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On June 16, 2026, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald introduced Private Members' legislation known as the Irish Unity Bill in the Dáil.
In social media posts, Ms McDonald, who is TD for Dublin Central and Leader of the Opposition in the Irish Republic, made the clear call: "The future of Ireland should be decided by the people of Ireland." In other words, the vision is for a united sovereign Irish Republic, a united Ireland (Éire aontaithe), a new Ireland (Éire nua). A "New Ireland" has been the vision and aim of those who have fought for Irish unity and independence, particularly during the period when British troops were committing atrocities against the Irish people in the north of Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s and Sinn Féin and Irish patriots were fighting to drive these British forces out of Ireland.
Mary Lou McDonald declares: "We have a huge opportunity to reunite our country and shape our own future, here at home. By seizing this opportunity, we can build a new Ireland that works for everyone."
McDonald is actively campaigning to pass the Irish Unity Bill in the Dáil on July 7, framing it as an unprecedented generational opportunity. The legislation seeks to legally force the Taoiseach and the Irish government to establish structured, responsible planning for constitutional change. It mandates the publication of a government Green Paper to consult with the public and explicitly outline what a unified state would look like within the European Union. The bill dictates the creation of an all-island Citizens' Assembly, bringing together various communities - including Unionists and Protestants - to co-design a shared future state.
The Commission on the Future of Ireland, a grassroots consultation, was launched by Sinn Féin in 2022 to plan and prepare for Irish Unity and constitutional change. The initiative gathers public input on healthcare, the economy, and governance through public assemblies across the island and internationally.
Mary Lou McDonald writes: "Keir Starmer's departure is the latest chapter in the revolving door of Westminster politics. That is why the time to prepare for Irish Unity is now. Ireland's future lies in our own hands. The opportunity before us is to build a new and united Ireland - one that delivers good public services, economic opportunity and a better future for all who share this island."
She concludes: "The conversation is no longer about if constitutional change will happen, but how we prepare for it and ensure that it works for everyone that calls this island home."