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11 December 2017

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Prominent nationalists urge Taoiseach to defend rights

"We appeal urgently to you Taoiseach, and to the Irish government, to reassure us of your commitment to stand for equality and a human rights-based society and your determination to secure and protect the rights of all citizens in the north." - Letter

More than 200 prominent nationalists from across civic society in the north have written to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar calling on the Irish government to protect the rights of citizens in the north. 

The signatories include leading figures from the worlds of law, academia, culture, sports, business, the media and the Irish language community.  

The list includes Tyrone GAA star Peter Canavan, filmmaker Terry, George, Irish international footballer James McClean and former Victims' Commissioner Patricia McBride. 

The letter states; "In recent years we have observed a concerted undermining of the political institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement and a laissez-faire approach being adopted by the two governments as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.

"We believe that the current crisis has come about fundamentally due to a failure to both implement & defend the Good Friday and St Andrew's Agreements.

"The result has been a denial and refusal of equality, rights and respect towards the section of the community to which we belong, as well as everyone living here."

The letter also explains that Brexit has the potential to reinforce partition and "revisit a sense of abandonment as experienced by our parents and grandparents”.

The signatories make a direct appeal to the Taoiseach to stand up for the rights of Irish citizens in the north. 

"We appeal urgently to you Taoiseach, and to the Irish government, to reassure us of your commitment to stand for equality and a human rights-based society and your determination to secure and protect the rights of all citizens in the north." 

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