Alarm over Articles Two and Three
BY Mícheál Mac Donncha
There has been alarm among republicans and nationalists
throughout Ireland and further afield this week about
the changes in Articles Two and Three of the 1937
Constitution being contemplated by the Fianna
Fáil/Progressive Democrats government.
Speaking to Joe Duffy on RTE radio while canvassing in
the Limerick by-election on Friday 6 March Bertie Ahern
said that Articles Two and Three were not an issue of
concern for northern nationalists. Asked about the
position of Caoimhghín O Caoláin in Leinster House the
Taoiseach said he would not be relying on the Sinn Féin
TD as there would be Opposition support for the
government on this issue.
The Sinn Féin TD was also in Limerick that day and even
before the Taoiseach had made his statement he had met
a number of Fianna Fáil members and voters who were
angry at the proposed changes to Articles Two and
Three. Responding to the Taoiseach's comments
Caoimhghín O Caoláin said:
``Articles Two and Three are very much of concern to
northern nationalists. Redefining the national
territory or removing the consitutional imperative to
achieve Irish unity would leave uncontested the British
constitutional claim to the Six Counties, which, unlike
the Irish claim, is actually enforced. It would be
totally unacceptable and would be opposed, not only by
northern nationalists, but by all republican and
sincere nationalist opinion throughout this island, as
an abandonment of the national interest by an Irish
government.
``Fianna Fáil members must be alarmed at the prospect
painted by the Taoiseach of such changes in Articles
Two and Three being introduced by the government with
the support of Fine Gael and others.''
On Saturday 7 March at a Sinn Féin rally in Cavan town
opposition to dilution of the Articles was again
expressed. The rally was chaired by Paddy McDonald,
chairperson of Cavan Sinn Féin Comhairle Ceantair, and
was addressed by Bairbre de Brún of the party's
negotiating team and Caoimhghín O Caolúin. Bairbre de
Brún said:
``The refusal of the unionists to engage properly in the
talks, the role of the securocrats within the British
establishment in pursuing a military agenda, and the
concessions to unionists both inside and outside the
talks, have all eroded confidence in and credibility of
the talks process.''
On Monday 9 March the Irish National Congress issued
its response to the speculation on Articles Two and
Three. The National Executive reiterated its
``implacable opposition'' to any proposed amendments to
the Articles. ``The Irish National Congress will ensure
that, unlike 1922, northern nationalists are not going
to be abandoned to unionist misrule,'' they said. The
group has launched a petition for circulation in the
Six Counties in defence of Articles Two and Three.
Speaking before his departure to London on Wednesday
evening to join the Sinn Féin delegation to meet
British Prime Minister Tony Blair Caoimhghín O Caoláin
highlighted Sinn Féin's demands on consitutional
change:
``The unionist veto must not be inserted into the 1937
Constitution. On the contrary the British government
needs to change the constitutional legislation by which
it exercises jurisdiction in the Six Counties. And if
constitutional change is to be progressive then surely
it is logical that the rights of Irish citizens in the
Six Counties should be extended to the ability to elect
TDs to Leinster House and vote in presidential
elections and referendums.''
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