by Keith Richmond

TEN years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, and at a critical time for the peace process in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein is putting a united Ireland firmly back at the heart of the political debate.

Raymond McCartney, a Sinn Fein member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, former officer commanding IRA prisoners in the H-Blocks and a leading architect of the party’s peace strategy, told a fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference: “We are closer to achieving a united Ireland than at any time in the past. There is growing support for Irish unity on the island of Ireland – the partition of our country must and will end. We ask people to join with us in this historic endeavour – and we know we need to win a significant section of the unionist community to achieve this.”

The call comes as the deadlock at Stormont continues with the power-sharing executive unable to meet because of wrangling between the DUP and Sinn Fein which began when Peter Robinson replaced Ian Paisley as First Minister. Sean Oliver, Sinn Fein co-ordinator for England, Scotland and Wales, said: “The situation in Ireland is critical. We are what we are – we are Irish Republicans – and we want to reunite our country.”

Mr McCartney said Sinn Fein had “successfully delivered” on the Agreement while the DUP were “in default” and the government had a key role to play in “ensuring delivery”. He added: “We are committed to the peace process.”