• The Mechanics of Transition

This battle must be fought on two fronts - North & South.

In the North, it will be necessary to allow Unionists - those who wish to remain on the island - to reconcile themselves to a pathway for becoming Irish and throwing their weight behind a coherent Irish nation.

In the South, the population have to be reminded that they have enjoyed freedom for the past 100 years, but only as ad hoc caretakers of the nation. 

To achieve these two aims - in advance of a border pole - will require citizens to undertake a campaign of peaceful demonstration of the advantages of a united island under the banner of Transition Ireland.

The advantage of making common cause under this banner is that we are a non-party organisation which is open to all shades of current and future political opinion but who, in all cases, are people who believe in a united country as the ultimate goal.

First, Establish The Nation

While existing political parties joust about the theoretical pros and cons of unity, we will take the issue to every corner of Ireland under the banner of Transition Ireland - The Green, the Star and the Raven.

Only flags & emblems which support Ireland, the New nation and/or the abolition of 'Northern Ireland' may be displayed at our gatherings.

Transition Ireland is a non-party movement with one objective - the reclamation of all the island of Ireland by and for the Irish people. 

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What can we say to Unionists about their future in Ireland (an issue which every party is fudging, and therefore does not engage the trust of Unionists)? 

Here is our answer: If Unionists join our Movement, they can look forward to:

• Proportional representation of their views in an all-Ireland parliament.
• A share of, and contribution to, the national wealth of the Island.
• Bringing to bear a socially conservative attitude to the nation's affairs in a Christian Democrat party to be set up following national  unity.
• Current issues with the EU - Protocol, Sea Border etc - resolved by membership of the whole island in Europe and full trading and diplomatic arrangements between Ireland and England, Scotland and Wales.
• Final resolution over the unholy war that has plagued the Irish people.
• Democratic input into the design of flag, National Anthem and other institutions of the country.
• A voice in the Foreign and Domestic policy of government.
• Rebuilding of national institutions such as Health and Education from the ground up.
• Citizenship of a nation whose influence and reputation in world affairs far exceeds its size and population.
• A common approach to issues which effect us all (eg. global warming, mass migration, cyber defence).

The price of this future will, of course, be the permanent loss of the grubby little statelet that was set up 100 years ago to try to ensure Protestant/Unionist domination over Catholics/Nationalists in the north of the island. 

The Days of Domination and Empire are over; Unionists must make a choice.

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Among Nationalists, there is much debate North & South, about the retention of the current Tricolour flag and the National Anthem 'Amhrán na bhFiann'. 

It may be that both will be retained in a new Ireland, but both shall be put in front of all the citizens of this Island to be tested as to whether they reflect the new situation for which we have fought for generations.

In the South, there will inevitably be debate as to the COST of unity, as if the North were bringing nothing to the table. This is not ABSORBTION of the North by the South but it is COMPLETION of the national territory. 

Transition Ireland says there shall be unity regardless of cost but, to inform this debate, all should read the section of this document on 'What's in it for Unionists? - The economics of Unity'.

• Sovereign Wealth Fund

Ireland must immediately begin the construction of a Sovereign Wealth Fund to take advantage of current and foreseeable capital surpluses and to help focus spending upon future development of the Island.

This fund may be applied to current and future opportunities which are identified after strict cost/benefit analysis. Such opportunities may arise in health, infrastructure, academia, defence etc.

A politically astute example is the recent funding (2023) by the Irish government of student nursing and midwifery places at Northern Ireland universities following a cut of 300 nursing places announced in June 2023 amid budget cuts across Stormont's departments.

The recently-published (July 2023) All-Island Rail Review with an expenditure of £Bn31 over 25 years is a valuable contribution to the normalisation of this island and is a much-needed  environmental initiative.

We welcome the Republic government announcement of 10th October 2023 that a €100bn wealth fund to be set up by mid-2030s.

The Future Ireland Fund will be seeded with an initial €4bn from the existing budget reserve. From 2024 until 2035 an amount equivalent to 0.8% of GDP will be paid in every year, which in 2024 will be around €4.3bn.

The Fund will be aimed mainly at an aging society, including the costs of things like pensions, healthcare and homecare.

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....Join < Transition Ireland >