A joint motion from the Louth and Limerick City branches to develop the Social Democrats as an all-island party has been accepted by the party’s National Conference on Friday last.

“This motion was the Social Democrats Louth’s primary motion for this year’s National Conference,” Louth Chair Niall McCreanor said. “As Social Democrats we believe that our policies and principles would be beneficial to citizens right across the island of Ireland and the motion reads as follows:

“Conference calls on the National Executive to set up a working group which will develop a discussion paper that evaluates the possibilities and options for the Social Democrats operating as an all-island entity.

The working group should consult widely, including with branches and members, in the development of a strategic approach to achieve the party’s goals right across the island.

In preparing a report on the options to best achieve these goals the working group will explore the resource implications, the constitutional, political, legal, and financial implications of all possible options open to the Party.

The Working group will report back to the National Executive with recommendations for next steps.”

The motion was accepted with a margin of 82.6% Yes.

Vice chairperson Eoin Reid said “While we are a small branch, our membership has nearly tripled in the past 12 months. This highlights the desire for change in the political landscape and particularly here in Louth.”

Niall McCreanor who noted that “ we are an all-island party and creating an all-island strategy helps us align with what we see as an inevitable desire towards reunification.

“We want to be able to represent all persons on the island of Ireland. As the first branch of the Social Democrats in the border region we are proud to have helped bring about this change”.