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National
and Regional Seats of Government in a Reunited Ireland
Introduction
 Of
all the challenges to the partition of Ireland and by extension, the
survival of Northern Ireland, Brexit is by far the most significant
for it came face-to-face with an international component and outside
stakeholders. The challenges posed by Brexit to partition are no
longer bilateral between the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of
Ireland. Now that the Republic of Ireland is a member state of the
European Union (EU) ant the UK is not, the EU has supplanted the
Republic of Ireland as the UK's primary negotiating partner in
resolving issues relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Brexit
poses an existential threat to the survival of Northern Ireland as a
constituent part of the UK as a consequence of hardline politicians
in Northern Ireland who question terms of the UKs withdrawal
agreement from the European Union (EU). In so doing they have caused
consternation within the British political establishment concerning
their intransigence and overplayed role in the ongoing post-Brexit
negotiations --- a hard swallow for proper Englishmen when
pseudo-Englishmen become uppity.
Although
the people of Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU in the Brexit
referendum of 2016, they were outvoted by the combined votes of the
other constituent parts of the UK. Now that the UK is out of the EU
and struggling economically, the only permanent access to the EU
marketplace for the people of Northern Ireland is within the context
of a reunited Ireland. The hard border between Ireland and Northern
Ireland that hardline Unionists yearn for is not coming back.
History has passed that probability by.
Therefore, for politicians in Ireland and elsewhere who advocate for
a reunited Ireland, it’s not enough to talk about reunification
without having a plan or vision as to how it would come about, what
form it would take and how it would be organized and governed. This
article together with other articles posted on this website is
intended to address these issues.
The Way
Forward
The reunited Ireland envisioned will be an all-Ireland
Federal Parliamentary Republic comprised of three distinct regions
namely, 1) the
Ulster Region
encompassing the nine counties of Ulster, 2) the Munster/Connacht
Region encompassing the eleven counties of Munster and Connacht, and
3) the Leinster Region encompassing the twelve counties of
Leinster.
The
union of Connacht and Munster into a single region would
lend economic equity and political balance to what would be
lacking in a standalone Connacht and to a lesser extent, in
a standalone Munster.
After
the reunification of Ireland is settled, one of the first decisions
to be made is where to locate the regional and national seats of
government. This is one of the most important tasks facing decision
makers for it will bind the country to federalism and a new way of
governance.
To that
end this paper puts forward proposed locations for the seats of
government for the national and regional governments. Regional
governments by necessity will be sited in their respective regions.
The national government will be relocated away from Dublin to a more
central location where it can function more effectively as the
national government within the confines of a decentralized federal
system.
The
transition from the present two systems of government in Ireland to
the new regional federal system will be time-consuming and costly.
A substantial transition period will be needed to complete the task
with the least disruptions and cost impacts. During that transition
period, the seats of government for the nation and regional
governments will be selected and readied for use.
The
National Government
In
addressing the location for siting the national government, Athlone,
the location selected by the authors of the Eire Nua proposal in the
mid-1960s is still the best location, for it meets the criteria
reasonable men and women would set for selecting a location for a
capital city.
It is
in the center of the country, bridges two of the federal regions and
is about 50 miles from Ulster, the other federal region. It’s a
historic town with a rich history, graced by the majestic Shannon.
It is a neutral arena where a capital city could take root and
flourish.
In
selecting a location within the town to site the capital building,
the real estate presently occupied by the Custume Barracks would be
an ideal spot as it is located in the center of the town and
occupies sufficient space and buildings to house government offices.
The military could be easily relocated elsewhere. It’s easily
accessible by road and rail from airports and major cities and
surrounded by open spaces for future development.
The Ulster Region.
Stormont
Castle in Belfast, the seat of government for the present Northern
Ireland devolved government would likely be the location selected by
diehard politicians for the seat of government for the proposed
Ulster Region. For them it would be a familiar setting where they
could continue to recall and relive past glories, ruminations of a
time passed.
However, Stormont Castle would be a poor choice as its history is
tainted with sectarianism and fascism, the legacy of former
governments who made it their lair. A location away from Belfast
would herald a break with the past, a new sense of purpose and most
importantly, a new beginning.
To that end, Armagh, the “city of saints and scholars,” would be a
suitable alternative to Belfast. Steeped in history and graced with
a rich history and notable buildings including two cathedrals, a
planetarium, an observatory and a museum, it would be an ideal
location for the seat of government. It is also the ecclesiastical
capital of two of Ireland’s leading religions, a testament to
tolerance and acceptance, virtues in short supply in Northern
Ireland.
Regarding access to Armagh, it is no better or worse than any other
town in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has only about 70 miles
of motorway, so access to Armagh is via “A”-designated roads. Access
to the MI motorway that connect Belfast to Dungannon is thirteen
miles from Armagh. Public transport is by bus.
The
Leinster Region.
Insofar
as Dublin politicians would be concerned, Leinster House in Dublin
would be the preferred setting for the seat of government for the
proposed Leinster Region. That would be especially true for those
politicians vying for a seat in the new
regional assembly.
However,
Leinster House would be a fraught place for the new regional
government. The same Dublin-centric mindset that beset its present
occupiers, Dail Eireann politicians, could also affect the regional
government as fifty-five percent of the population of Leinster live
in Co. Dublin. Therefore, the influence of its representatives in a
Dublin setting would dominate, particularly in a Leinster House
setting. To mitigate that scenario, a location away from Dublin
would give some balance to the situation.
Kilkenny
city, the first
medieval capital of Ireland, would be an excellent
alternative. It straddles the River Nore, it’s home to two
cathedrals, a castle, a round tower and a number of other historic
buildings. It may be possible to refurbish one of the city’s
historic buildings to accommodate the regional seat of government.
Otherwise, a site within the city could be found to build the new
government’s headquarters.
Kilkenny is serviced by the Dublin Waterford railroad and the M9
Dublin-to-Waterford Motorway.
The Connacht & Munster Region.
The most apt location for the seat of government for the proposed
Connacht & Munster Region would be Limerick city. It is located as close to the
midpoint of both provinces as possible. It straddles the River
Shannon, the natural boundary between Leinster and Munster with the
exception of Co. Clare which is a designated Munster county.
It is a city rich in history having endured four sieges in the 17th
century and playing vital roles in the War of Independence and the
Civil War. It is home to two cathedrals, a castle, a university and
numerous monuments including the Treaty Stone, Sarsfield Memorial
Statue and the 1916 Memorial Statue.
Limerick is serviced by the M7 and M18 motorways and by train
service connecting Limerick to Dublin, Cork, and Galway.
TMMTP
Date posted 8/6/2022
Updated
10/22/2023
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