Shared Ireland, Shared Island.
Our vision is a reconciled people living in a shared, just and agreed new Ireland as the SDLP has espoused since its inception and as Hume developed over his years as SDLP leader. It is in this vain that we approach the topics of Culture, Heritage and North/South affairs. The Good Friday Agreement, which is the cornerstone to the peace we have today, stresses the relationships between our people in Northern Ireland, the relationship between the North and the South of this Island and the relationship between our island and Great Britain. All three of these strands go hand in hand in finding an agreed and shared home for all of us.
The future of this place must find space for all of Ireland’s traditions and culture in which they are treated with respect and valued as an important part of the life of Ireland. It is our belief that the next step must be legislating for the rights of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland with an Irish language Act and we must also strengthen and develop our cross-border links for the benefit of all people on this island.
Our Culture and Heritage Policies.
SDLP Youth is campaigning for:
more funding for Irish-medium education, Irish language classes and Irish language cultural projects.
more funding for cross-community Irish language projects, emphasising and promoting the fact that Irish is not a nationalist language, nor a republican language, nor a Catholic language – it is a language for all, with a rich history of speakers in both Unionist and Nationalist communities.
funding for Gaelscoileanna that must be proportional to areas in which there is a demand and need for them.
for a rethink on the establishment of Gaelscoileanna in areas where there is no demand nor need for them as this completely undermines the efficiency and quality of Irish-medium education and the preservation and revival of the Irish language.
the Irish Government to provide for more Gaelscoileanna in areas where high demand exists.
the introduction of Irish language legislation in Northern Ireland, as agreed in New Decade, New Approach, and supports the introduction of an Irish Language Act.
parks, streets, squares or any other such civic or open public space not to be named after any organisation or individual which may have been involved in the perpetration of sectarian violence during the Troubles.
a ban on the public display of paramilitary flags or emblems.
the parties to agree a standard set of regulations for bonfires, and for the Minister of the Environment to introduce legislation to that effect following discussion between the parties and affected groups.
Unionist history and culture to be studied, preserved and celebrated as a valued and essential part of the Irish identity, equal to that of the cultures of the other peoples of Ireland.
support to be provided for both the celebration and preservation of both classical and modern art, music and culture.
the reversal of cuts to the BBC and opposition to any changes to the BBC Charter that will undermine its fundamental principles.
Our North/South Policies.
SDLP Youth is campaigning for:
new North/South bodies for climate change and energy to be created to review cross border strategies for renewable energy and fuel poverty.
the Northern Ireland Assembly to work with the Irish Government in order to establish an Irish version of the Warm Home Scheme across the entire island.
the Wild Atlantic Way to be extended to the north coast and to introduce a similar scheme for the east coast.
better provision of cross-border health co-operation in order to make health services more efficient, to improve emergency services, especially around the border regions.
the introduction of a social democratic, state-based healthcare system in the Republic.
progress on infrastructure projects, such as the A5, the A6 and the Narrow Water Bridge.
a series of new developments in rail, such as an all-Ireland integrated rail system, a light rail system in Belfast, and re-establishing the rail line between airports an part of our regional aviation strategy.
the implementation of smart meters in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as is being carried out in England and Wales to allow for easy switching of energy markets.
an all-Ireland body to be set up to support, promote and facilitate renewable energy.
the Irish Government to actively work to guarantee and protect the UK Human Rights Act 1998, due to its status as an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement.
the people of Northern Ireland to have a say in any reform of Seanad Éireann.
the creation of a single Irish domestic football league for both football teams in the Republic and the North, with the goal of integrating the FAI and the IFA.
Irish citizens in Northern Ireland to have the right to vote for their president.
the repeal of the 27th amendment of the constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hEireann) and the reintroduction of birthright citizenship in the Republic of Ireland, in support of the Born Here, Belong Here campaign organised by our sister organisation, Labour Youth.
the Irish Government to ensure survivors of Mother and Baby Homes can exercise their right to request and access their own data. We also believe once the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes’ report has been published, that sufficient time for debate within the Oireachtas must be allocated.
