The Five Demands

United Ireland conference planned (Derry Journal)
A major conference to discuss the merits of a united Ireland will be held in Derry next month and is likely to attract more than 1,000 people.
The conference, which is being organised by Sinn Féin, will be held in the Millennium Forum on Saturday January 28th and will include a panel of prominent speakers.
While the line-up of speakers has yet to be announced, it is likely to include unionist politicians as well as republicans.
It will be the last of a series of ‘Uniting Ireland conferences’ held by Sinn Féin across the island and is likely to be the largest, with 1,100 people expected from Derry, Donegal, and Tyrone.
A recent conference held in Newry was addressed by John McCallister, the deputy leader and chief whip of the Ulster Unionst Party.
The Derry conference will co-incide with the weekend of events to mark the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
The organisers have said the intention of the conference is launch a public debate around the idea of a united Ireland and to include as many people as possible.
Writing in today’s ‘Journal,’ Andrew McCartney, chairperson of Derry Sinn Féin, said that he wanted the debate to be challenge for supporters and opponents of re-unification.
“It is our intention to put over one thousand people into the Forum to hear our vision of a new Ireland and how we intend to achieve it.
“The last time we held a conference in the Forum was in 2007 on policing when we set out our strategy and approach to this important subject.
“At that conference we packed the hall and we intend to do so again on another very important subject.
“At a recent Uniting Ireland Conference in Newry two Ulster Unionist MLA’s attended, one of them, John McCallister, was on the platform debating the pros and cons of a United Ireland,” he said.
Mr McCartney also appealed for as many people as possible to attend the event.
“28th January 2012 will allow all those who want to debate the merits or otherwise of a United Ireland the opportunity to do so,” he said.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and take part or to at least listen to the contributions that will be made.”