Mike Garde – A Republican Unionist

Mike Garde BD, MA, H Dip. ED, CPE is a Theologian and Cult Expert who was born in South Africa, but has lived most of his life in Ireland. He received an MA in Theology in 2006 from the Milltown Institute in Dublin, on the Magnificat Meal Movement, a traditionalist Catholic Movement centred on devotion to the Eucharist and devotion to the Virgin Mary which has evolved into Cultist movement. He visited Helidon, near Brisbane Australia where the MMM is located in 2003

PROPOSAL FOR A UNITED IRELAND IN A UNITED NORTHERN ISLES (UNI) By Mike Garde A Republican Unionist _____________________________________________________________________

In the year 1707, the creation of Great Britain and the sinking of separate nations of England, Wales and Scotland, was a foundation for greatness. At the end of that century came the loss of America or should we say The East Coast of what was to become the United States of America.

Irish protestants, wishing to have a parliament in Dublin, achieved this from 1782 – 1800. From that date, the Irish Parliament was closed down and Ireland, through convoluted politics, entered the Union. It is well known what did happen in 1916. Whereas for most people in The Republic of Ireland, the commemoration of 1916 was a very meaningful occasion but for me it marked a profound change in my thinking, similar to my rejection of Apartheid on returning to Ireland from South Africa in 1966. This event was the origin of the Republic and all parties accepted this as a foundation myth for this state. It has led many to talk of British rule, England, 800 years of British rule, a British colony, the British Empire and so on as if this was an alien reality. The reality was we had over 100 years as an integral part of the union.

I came to realize that this is, in fact, a country which was called The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland which had agreed to introduce Home Rule. A vast group of Ulster people resisted that idea but Redmond’s party wanted to force it upon them.

Like the physical force Republicans they did not agree to the principle of consent.

A fact that has escaped most people in the Republic is, that only seven signatories took part in the Rising, they lied and allied themselves to one of the most repressive regimes of that time – that of The Kaiser.

The rise of ISIS, reaching its end as a state last year, reminds us of what can happen when peoples come under ideological control. When Robert Fisk, in a joint RTE/BBC programme with Michael Portillo on the Monday before Easter 2016, was asked for his opinion of the Cult of Death, espoused by Patrick Pearse, replied that in his opinion, it was very similar to that found in the context where he worked in the Middle East. He did not, specifically, refer to ISIS but that was his intended meaning. The next morning, ironically, ISIS struck in Zaventum, Brussels Airport, but the media did not observe the parallels of innocent civilians being killed on the streets of Europe in 2016 without a mandate, the same as happened in Dublin in 1916. Personally, I see the need to restore relationships between peoples of these islands, not by further separation but by bringing integration to our history and to recognise that we need a totally new relationship.

Queen Elizabeth II is a unique person. She has tried, by her presence in Ireland, to recast our whole history. She has offered love and acceptance and now waits for her citizens to grasp this, by building a new relationship regardless of Brexit, which assists us in addressing the border issues. In other words, 1916 was totally unsuccessful in bringing about a Republic and not until 1948 was it established. Now it is clear that this identity is established as is our European Union identity. We have become European Unionists and I am suggesting we should revisit our Northern Isles

Unionism.

What is the relevance of this to the Brexit Referendum of 2016? It is the constitution stupid. Scotland has already shown how fragile the United Kingdom is, proved by its vote for independence, but Brexit shows the tensions which are now evident. Recent events in Spain show the importance of constitutional arrangements and so we need to revisit the relations between these islands. If the United Kingdom leaves the single market and customs union, by definition it creates a new international border. The Republic of Ireland is not the entity which creates this reality. The United Kingdom is not leaving the European Economic Community, a kind of economic market which it joined. However the European Union which has the feeling of moving beyond the nation state and as a result has, if you are outside of it, international borders. It is an entity which arose from Maastricht, which Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher helped to create. Unlike France and the Netherlands, The United Kingdom voted to accept a European Constitution.

Talk about unelected elites and Commissioners, indicates a total ignorance of European law and institutions. In other words, Ireland will not be exercising its veto in regard to moving from the first phase into the second, as its position is that of The European Union.

Hence my proposal to create a constitutional framework for the purpose of addressing this growing sore in Anglo-Irish and North-South relations. It is not about finding ways to overcome the contradictory positions of trying to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market without affecting border issues. The Republic of Ireland is not, directly, negotiating with the United Kingdom with regard to Brexit. However, as two separate states there is no bar to a new relationship, which would help us to overcome our scarred history. Part of the legacy of the allies after the Second World War in West Germany was its Federal States. Later, when the German Democratic Republic and the Bundes Republik united as Germany, West Germany’s membership of the European Community allowed for East Germany to join the EC. We could frame a totally new Constitutional relationship which, as in Germany, gave membership to those in the UNI who wish to retain it and provide for peace between the anti and remain factions on Brexit. This could take on a slightly different shape with a new reality between these islands.

A Constitutional Convention could be held, while Brexit negotiations are in progress. As in an East-West debate, it would not interfere with the wider discussions. This would build on East-West parliamentary relationship, already in place, but would go much further. It would require the re-shaping of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland constitution to create a union of nations allowing the Republic of Ireland to be a part of it and to also remain in the European Union. The Commonwealth already provides for a membership of all forms of Government and so would not require the inclusion of monarchy and taking the oath of allegiance. Remember Eire had dominion status and by definition was a member of the Commonwealth. When it declared a Republic in 1948 it by definition lost its Commonwealth status. So talk of just joining the Commonwealth misses the point. In any event, the Republic would be a member of the Commonwealth by its inclusion into the new entity.

I believe in a new constitution for the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Scotland under the monarchy, in partnership with the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. I firmly believe that by re-joining in this United Northern Isles, the result in Ireland would be an immediate United Ireland which would include two states. One would be based in the Republic with its capital in Dublin and the other NI with its capital in at Stormont. It would make sense for these two States to have joint authority over the three Ulster Counties and to administer this through the North South Body. So instead of movements to separate we have now the need to integrate our past and not constantly continue on this ancient journey to a cul de sac called Separatism. The movements towards European integration are about overcoming the centuries of war in Europe and Ireland. However, integration is not now the greatest need, it is rather democratisation and bringing government closer to the people. Another attempt should be made to frame a constitution for Europe.

The Republic of Ireland, joining in this new entity, would be recognised and affirmed on its journey and it would also provide for Scotland and Northern Ireland, wishing to remain in the European Union, a means of maintaining their European Union status through membership. Because of a newly created political reality, the issues of remaining or leaving will become an internal issue for new member states. If Wales wished to re-join, the mechanism would be in place for it to do that. This would end the need for any border issues. Those who wish for Brexit would have it, those wishing to remain can so do. We, as Unionist Republicans, want it to be Unionist, by means of the Republic of Ireland re-joining the reconstituted United Kingdom = Northern Isles and thus we unite the island of Ireland. Following Good Friday Agreement, (GFA,) there are two states. Northern Ireland (NI,) would remain under the monarchy and the other, a Republic and a full member of the European Union and the United Northern Isles. A majority in Northern Ireland wish to remain in the European Union but a majority also wish to remain in the UK. Following my proposal we no longer need to fret about a separatist Ireland. Here that equation no longer has meaning as we have two states as part of the Union of the Northern Isles. However, if the Majority in the North wishes it, they could close Stormont and have a smaller parliament at College Green. More likely we will have two states in Ireland in UNI.

All those supporting EU membership would continue to send representatives to Europe, then the Republic would take its seats at Westminster.

By the time we arrive at March 2019 the English and Welsh nations within the United Northern Isles might be the only nations that to take part in Brexit, within the United Northern Isles.

The fact that the DUP supported Brexit put them on the winning side of the Brexit argument, in the wider UK, but on the losing side of opinion in Ireland. This has led Sinn Fein into putting all its eggs into the United Ireland basket, and by not going back to Stormont, it has avoided having to deal with the every-day realities of power. The choice for Sinn Fein would be to change, as they have on Europe by supporting the Union in Europe, by working within the United Northern Isles reality they would have achieved their goal of a United Ireland. They are EU Unionists but still UK separatists.

This is not something which the citizens of The Republic would tolerate at the moment, but as the United Kingdom is caught in a catch 22 situation as it approaches the D Day of withdrawal. We might be freed from being prisoners of our history and once again unite, in a relationship of mutual friendship and peace. If this is not a way forward, it could be used to move beyond a reversion to stereotypes of the past, enabling a new solution. If not, the strains of Brexit will be likely to see the end of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, as the economic uncertainty will corrode the Union.

The United Kingdom discusses seamless borders and custom-less barriers. Why? Because its Cabinet contains people with totally contradictory views. The result? Pay a ransom and try to move to stage two of the Brexit talks. Keep on with the giving of vague commitments and blaming the European Union when your decisions give rise to the border. It is not possible to implement the Irish Sea proposal because your partner in government, the DUP does not want that kind of border. However, they are also opposed to a border with the Republic, but in fact their Brexit position brings a real border closer. They are mostly Brexiteers on speed, which strengthens the position of a United Ireland, outside of the United Kingdom. Also the DUP seem to see the Republic using Brexit to gain a United Ireland. The DUP it turns out are not really All Ireland Unionists but rather NI Nationalists. The Brexit ideology has blinded them to the fact that they are about to lose their economic base. I know that there is a very strong grouping for Brexit but they are a minority. I wrote to every DUP MP and to Arlene Foster. The only politician to reply was Hilary Benn.

Whereas, in reality it is the opposite they totally support the right of the NI people to determine their future. I have found, when I suggested to Unionists and Conservatives, that they might approach the Republic with this proposal, they really did not have a Unionist bone in their bodies. They had absorbed a partitionist mind-set when, inviting the Republic into the equation was suggested. A radical proposal but better than just staring into the sun. I can’t find traction for this proposal here but if would be brought to our government by the HM’s government it might restore the wonderful relations that had developed over the last 30 years.

Mike Garde Revised January 1^st. 2018

Revised November 7, 2018

December 6, 2018, January 26^th, 2019

The elephant in the room is the National School.

There is a kind of group think that can’t distinguish between secular, religious, denominational and nondenominational education. Take Clontarf where Lord Vernon in 1843 as the Landlord gave a gift of land to three denominations to build 3 schools. A Catholic managed boys and girls National school, a Church of Ireland managed National school and a Presbyterian managed National School. This meant that Lord Vernon was the
Patron, the clergy from the different denominations were the managers. The conditions for this were that national schools kept religion out of the curriculum and kids from all kinds of backgrounds would be taught together, but religion was kept separate. No religious items were allowed into the school as a condition of the state funding of this nondenominational form of education. In 1943 Archbishop McQuaid signed up to these principles and we have a copy of the title deed proving this. However, Catholicism totally rejected this understanding of education and wanted to destroy this unique form of education by forcing religion into the secular curriculum. Latest research suggests this happened around 1956. So the idea that these are Catholic schools which are divesting is laughable. There are a few Catholic schools which are private. One example is Willow Park in Blackrock. However, most are state funded National Schools. A lot of schools are now calling themselves Catholic Primary Schools. They are now having their cake and eating it. They control admissions and are totally funded by the state. We are so brainwashed we have bought into this system. The media has never interrogated this constitutionally or questioned how the state has facilitated this horrendous Apartheid system. Read what Bishop Doyle wrote about this nearly 200 hundred years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Warren_Doyle

Doyle spoke before a Parliamentary Committee as follows:

I do not see how any man wishing well to the public peace, and who looks to Ireland as his country, can think that peace can be permanently established, or the prosperity of the country ever well secured, if children are separated at the commencement of life on account of their religious opinions.

This is how he sees it from a political point of view. Separate schools would endanger the public peace, which is not yet permanent. The prosperity of the country also depends on keeping children together. Then he deals with the effect of separation on the children themselves. I do not know of any measures that would prepare the way for better feeling in Ireland than uniting children at an early age, and bringing them up in the same school, leading them to commune with one another and to form those little intimacies and friendships which subsist through life. Children thus united know and love each other as children brought up together always will and to separate them is I think, to destroy some of the finest feelings in the hearts of men