Thread by @DevlinMartina

1. The diversity of the issues raised at @irelandsfuture public meetings around preparing for unity tells us this is a current and important conversation which people want to engage in, says chair @andreemurphy at latest public meeting in #Sligo #preparingforanewireland

2. Now is the decade of opportunity and our constitutional future is being discussed by all sorts of people in both public and private forums, says @MacManusChris

3. #Unity is about the dynamic that provides a better standard of life for all the citizens says @MacManusChris . It is not the responsible of one or two political parties to outline that vision.

@MacManusChris 4. A structured mechanism to plan for change is needed says @MacManusChris. Says the gov has duty to make preparations for #unity and urges an all-island citizens' assembly fully resourced by the government and reporting to the Oireachtas to prepare for unity

5. It is critical we ensure people from #unionist background and also that the EU institutions are engaged says @MacManusChris. We need to know what supports are available from #EU if a yes vote to #unity

6. People have a right both to advocate for and oppose #unity says @marcmacsharrytd. He notes Ireland is more diverse than ever before.

7. I'm a migrant I moved into Ireland in 2003, says activist Nike Ogun. Re preparing for a new Ireland she says no nation moves forward without reflecting on its past and using its present.

8. Nike Ogun says the shamrock represents love and unity. She says Irish citizens are making their mark worldwide and Ireland has a rich history.

9. Over the years the Irish population has increased and diversified, says Nike Ogun. There are many things she as a migrant can do to contribute to the future of Ireland, she says.

10. Policy must change to reflect the changes in Ireland says Nike Ogun. The change has started because she is experiencing it but there is room for improvement in inclusion, housing and cost of living which is so high it driving people into depression and suicide she says.

11. Nike Ogun says she landed in Ireland and learned about the Troubles. If Ireland is not united Ireland can't face the external world, she says. How to achieve #unity is by consultation, working together, hearing one another,respecting one another and inclusion she urges.

12. This is my personal opinion and not government opinion says @FrankFeighan. Says his grandfather was an IRA commander and mother was Cumann na mBán and he is proud of his family's fight for Irish independence.

13. I believe a border poll is inevitable and we should set up an Oireachtas commission to examine one, says @FrankFeighan

14. I've listened to republicans, unionists, loyalists nationalists, people in the UK parl and US. I represent middle Ireland and middle Ireland is about healthcare, housing and education says @FrankFeighan. He says middle Ireland counts: they are the people who vote

15. I don't want a referendum to be about English nationalism, Irish nationalism, xenophobia, anti EU (sentiment) says @FrankFeighan. Says there was dark Russian money in #Brexit campaign.

16. Some of us who travelled to Sligo today came from a place on the island outside #EU ie #Belfast and entered EU in Sligo today says @cjhumanrights.

17. Whether you are pro union or pro unity - those are entirely legitimate positions says @cjhumanrights. We need that to grow as a de-dramatised discussion he urged.

18. The Irish government, political parties, civil society across Ireland have responded with dignity and a focus on solutions framed by #GFA and finding constuctive ways forward in the face of the most egregious provocation from British government, @cjhumanrights

19. We want to have wonderful warm relationships across these islands going forward and the tragic component to what's happening now is causing great sadness, says @cjhumanrights.

20. The people of this island have a choice says @cjhumanrights. Says we're experts on this island at avoiding asking the constitutional question.

21. All we're talking about in these discussions is preparing the ground well, doing the work and asking the people the question and making sure the people north and south know precisely as much as possible the consequences of whatever choice people make says @cjhumanrights

22. Are we in this island going to spend the decades ahead reacting to the latest disaster from Westminster or Whitehall or are we going to step into the agreed space of asking the constitutional question and letting the people of this island answer it, says @cjhumanrights

23. It's different Ireland that we're looking at and there'll be sacrifices necessary on all sides. It won't be the Ireland my grandfather and grandmother fought for, says @FrankFeighan

24. The diaspora should be asked to the citizens' assembly. Everything needs to be up for discussion everybody needs to feel they are at the table by right and their viewpoint is as valid as any other during this structured conversation about a united Ireland says @MacManusChris

25. There are political challenges to asking the question in both jurisdictions says @MarcMacsharryTD.

@MarcMacsharryTD 26. Cultural brokerage is the key to progress: identifying the commonalities but accepting the differences, says @MarcMacsharryTD

27. I'm meeting people on a daily basis who are despondent, disenfranchised and feel structures are not responsive to their needs re housing+healthcare. I'm sceptical of the delivery of a united Ireland that's equal, says Sligo-based medical social worker in audience

28. Talking about the future is not putting off dealing with problems in the here and now, says @cjhumanrights. Many people take the promises around transformation seriously they don't think new as in new Ireland is a meaningless word.

29. There is a clear view we can do so much better on this island together, not only economically but in dealing with marginalised and vulnerable communities, says @cjhumanrights

30. If you stand on the sidelines and neglect this conversion you're going to get left behind so I'd encourage people: if you want a new Ireland you need to join in. You cannot be a bystander if you want to shape the discussion, says @cjhumanrights

31. More direction in reaching out to #unionist folk needs to happen, said member of the audience. Said drawing into meaningful conversations well in advance of a border poll allowed unionists to define a new Ireland. The question of ownership belongs to everyone

32. How do you reach out to people who won't engage with you re #unionism? asks member of audience

33. I'm an Irish republican, there are some key lines in the Proclamation to me - equal rights to all citizens says @MacManusChris. I know there are discussions going on in breaking down mindsets of themmuns over there

34. Unionism is not a homogenous society says @MacManusChris. Younger people don't see themselves as part of an inward-looking union with London. Marriage equality and repeal referendums show them the Republic is a progressive place. Sections of unionism see #unity coming he says

35. 30,000 Irishmen from Republic who died WWI have been written out of history says @FrankFeighan

36. If we talked about joining the Commonwealth there'd be 100s of thousands of people protesting, says @FrankFeighan. Says with agreed Ireland we'll have to have some association with the Commonwealth. But mere mention of it drives everyone from nationalist background mad

37. Why is there not a #unionist on this panel asks member of audience. Unionism doesn't want a new Ireland is happy with association with UK. Says panel has minimal legitimacy because of that omission.

38. We need to learn from our history says audience member. Says he is 100pc a supporter of #Brexit not because of English nationalism but because he sees Brexit providing a real possibility to develop a blueprint for peace across Europe.

39. I sometimes think there are dominant voices in the North that haven't learned to temper their output in a way Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley did, says @MarcMacsharryTD Both unionism and nationalism are missing those voices he says. Says risk of extreme voices predominating

40. @MarcMacsharryTD says doesn't want to join Commonwealth and doesn't want to wear poppies because the past and the Somme served as symbolism of division.

41. We can't continue to dwell on the past if we want to move forward says Nike Ogun. We will grow old, we will fizzle out, and we need to give young people the tools to be able to go in the right way she says.

42. I've been hurt through conflict, I lost a brother says @MacManusChris. Said he became involved in reconciliation work for 12, 14 years and that's made him a more rounded republican. We can unleash a dynamic and great society here in Ireland but needs all those conversations

43. If I was a unionist I would say what have you got against associations with the Commonwealth nations says @FrankFeighan. If we cannot appreciate our shared history, warts and all, we will not have an agreed new island he says.

44. Tonight is not the end of the conversation it will go on beyond tonight says @cjhumanrights

45. I am not here tonight to argue for united Irland but to argue for choice says @cjhumanrights

46. Uncomfortable civic conversations are happening, they are not up in lights says @cjhumanrights. What people want as opposed to what people assume unionists want can be very different. What comes up time + time gain is health, jobs, housing. Sometimes culture comes way behind.

47. We need to respect everyone on this island enough to present people with a concrete plan. And when there are concrete proposals about housing and health that's when people from #unionism will engage, says @cjhumanrights