A basis for real change?

Thirty-two hours of non-stop negotiations didn't produce a thirty-two county republic. Brian Campbell, editor of Sinn Fein's An Phoblacht/Republican News gives his assessment of the peace agreement.

The Unionist veto on constitutional change remains firmly entrenched (along with Tony Blair's support for the Union) and it is proposed that the Irish constitution will no longer define the national territory as the whole island of Ireland.

The unionists have expressed themselves satisfied with the constitutional elements of the Agreement. The political elements are causing them a lot more trouble. The proposed Assembly, for example, can only agree major decisions with a majority of both nationalists and unionists. Its "ministries" will be headed by parties in proportion to the number of seats they hold. This is causing consternation in unionism because if Sinn Fein decides to take its seats it is likely to have two ministers -- the prospect of Gerry Adams as Minister of, say, Education is too much for many unionists to stomach.

But Sinn Fein's constitution bars its members from taking seats in an Assembly and if the unionists' nightmare is to come true, a special SF Ard Fheis (National Conference) would have to remove the constitutional bar by a two-thirds majority.

Other proposals include All-Ireland bodies covering twelve areas of responsibility (the environment, fisheries, teacher training and others), the release of prisoners within two years, a Commission to recommend changes to the RUC, help for the Irish language, and a British-Irish Council which will bring together representatives of the two governments and the devolved institutions in the Six Counties, Wales and Scotland as well as representatives from the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

The last item was not high on the nationalists' agenda and there has been very little discussion on it (one participant said it was nothing more than "a day out twice a year"). The implications of the Agreement within Britain are unclear. For example, does an Assembly with devolved powers and links to cross-border bodies represent the "semi-detachment" of the Six Counties? Or, as seems more likely, is it simply a case of doing the minimum to ensure stability?

People on the ground need to see real change in the short term. The Agreement is full of high-blown aspirations but can it deliver employment equality, an end to discrimination, fair policing and justice?

Sinn Fein is now engaging in an intensive debate on the Agreement but it is the constitutional issues which prompted initial comments that "this is not a settlement". Meetings which I have attended have produced creative and comradely debate from activists who have always sensed the need to push forward for real change. But the Agreement represents uncharted waters. Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle (National Executive) member Micheal Mac Donncha said: "The over-arching question is: Can this outcome advance the drive to national unity and independence, or, at least, not delay it? Some others will attempt to use it to stabilise partition and British rule; Republicans must make their judgements on the basis of their ability not only to thwart such reactionary efforts, but to turn the situation in a progressive direction."

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