Sinn Féin and SDLP leaders have welcomed the initiative from civic unionism and others challenging what they said was a nationalist assumption that qualities such as rights, truth and equality were not inherent within unionism. They said they found it “frustrating and puzzling that civic unionism, pluralists and other forms of civic leadership have been rendered invisible in many debates focused on rights and responsibilities”. The civic unionism initiative has prompted considerable discussion in Northern Ireland and a generally positive response from nationalism. Sinn Féin’s Northern leader Michelle O’Neill said she welcomed this “initiative by those within civic unionism who insist that their views and voices are heard in the debate on the demand for rights and equality in northern society”. I welcome this initiative from civic unionism as an important intervention into this debate.”The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood in a welcoming letter to the civic unionism group said there was “no future if our political conversation continues to be locked in an arm-wrestle which no-one can win”.

Source: The Irish Times February 28, 2018 16:52 UTC