It both fuelled the conflict in Northern Ireland and fed off it. Its roots are deep in both major communities and could strangle the possibility of reconciliation. Despite the cease-fires, it shows no sign of diminishing as recent ugly confrontations show. If anything, the cessation of bombing and shootings shows all the more clearly the depth of sectarianism in Northern Ireland society. This is a legacy we should not burden our children with.
Respect is necessary for understanding.
Pluralism, both sides of the border, creates the conditions for respecting each other's traditions. A new Constitution will not, by itself, bring about the unity of Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter - and any new Constitution needs to take account of the estimated 300,000 immigrants who will have joined us by the year 2020. We also need to shed much of the baggage of history in order to face the challenges and opportunities of the future. When we can answer that question, we can fashion a 21st Century Republic worthy of the name.