If Irish republicanism is a spectrum, then a line plotting where some of the members of Westmeath County Council stand on it could be drawn up on the basis of positions adopted at the council’s April meeting.

On the agenda was a motion submitted by Sinn Féin member, David Jones, proposing that the council “call on and write to An Taoiseach, to ask that the Irish Government plan and prepare for Irish unity”.

Following some debate, a revision was suggested by Cllr Jones himself, and members agreed to the amended motion proposing that they write to An Taoiseach seeking an update on the Shared Island initiative and to support continued work towards Irish unity.

Cllr Jones said similar motions had already been adopted by 15 local authorities.

Proposing his original motion, Cllr Jones stressed it was not about seeking a referendum, but encouraging planning and inclusive dialogue, and that it was important to acknowledge there are people who may not want to be part of a united Ireland: “We have to listen to those views, to come to some sort of a compromise: everyone deserves a say in what the united Ireland looks like.”

Supporting the motion, Cllr Julie McCourt (SF) said it was about getting the conversation started, fostering unity, respect and collaboration.

Cllr Ken Glynn (Fianna Fáil) said while he supported the motion, the Taoiseach had already begun the work through the Shared Island, aimed at securing long-lasting progress.

Cllr Niall Gaffney (FF) said the work has been ongoing for years: “Cllr Jones was correct when he said it’s about listening to all voices. But the Shared Island is delivering real, beneficial change and connecting voices from communities that never would have been connected before,” he said, adding that a united Ireland was not just about getting rid of the border: but about uniting people.

The position of Cllr Vinny McCormack was that all in his party (FF) aspired to the ideal of a united Ireland, and it was important that it come by consensus, by bringing all communities together, north and south. “I think it’s long been established that the only mechanism for moving any process forward is consensus,” he said, quoting recent comments by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on fostering understanding and addressing practical issues such as health, education and infrastructure.

Some councillors raised concerns about the wording of the original motion. Cllr Frankie Keena (FF) proposed an amendment seeking that the council request an update on the Shared Island, while continuing to support progress towards unity.

Cllr Denis Leonard (Labour) agreed with the motion, and said he appreciated what has been happening through the Shared Island, and through the Good Friday Agreement, the Anglo Irish Agreement, and the previous decades of work, reminding colleagues that his party had always been an All-Ireland movement.

Cllr Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland) commended Cllr Jones for tabling what he described as “a motion of such significance”.

“I’ve always believed that partition doesn’t make sense – to have two health systems, two housing systems, two transport systems, two education systems, on a relatively small island doesn’t make sense.”

He thought Cllr Jones’s motion would have received unanimous support if it had said to call on the British government to plan and prepare for Irish unity.

Cllr Tom Farrell (Fine Gael) said the Shared Island was already under way but warned that not all voices have yet been heard. He said greater engagement with communities across the island was needed, suggesting any move towards unity must happen “at the appropriate time”, only after sustained dialogue. Education and open discussion, he added, would be key to building understanding and consensus.

Cllr Liam McDaniel (FF) said he had no objection to the motion in principle but stressed that significant legacy issues arising from the Good Friday Agreement remained unresolved.

“They’re there and we can’t consign them to history and forget about them. They have to be dealt with. And I feel that if there’s a plan, dealing with the legacy issues has to be part of the plan,” he said, adding that among those issues was the death of the Moate soldier, Pte Patrick Kelly, whose family are still waiting for answers.

Cllr Mick Dollard (Independent) backed Cllr McDaniel’s point about Pte Kelly, saying he had known him personally, and that the young man’s death had left “a sour taste” in the mouths of a lot of people who had served in the Defence Forces.

Cllr Dollard had reservations about Cllr Jones’s motion, stating that while the Good Friday Agreement allows for a future referendum on Irish unity, substantial groundwork remains to be done. He pointed to the impact of Brexit and ongoing economic challenges, particularly the scale of funding currently provided to Northern Ireland from the British Government.

He also raised concerns about pressures on public services in the Republic, arguing that economic considerations must be central to any discussion on unity.

Cllr Dollard further suggested the motion reflected a broader political agenda rather than a locally driven initiative, and reiterated his view that more time and preparation are needed before progressing the issue.

Cllr Jones volunteered to amend his motion – but defended himself vigorously against a claim by Cllr Dollard that the original motion was one drawn up at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis “or maybe Belfast or Dublin”.

“As a true Republican, I would love to see a united Ireland. It’s not ‘coming from Belfast’, despite what you may think,” he stated.

The amended motion was passed by members.