Proposal

To hold a conference in spring/early summer 2004.

Aims

1. to publicise the Reform Movement and its programme for a New Ireland;
2. to assemble a critical mass of Reform members and sympathisers for an in-depth discussion of the organisation’s outlook, policies and politics; and
3. to publish the proceedings of the conference in the form of a book of essays.

Content

Presentations and papers on various aspects of the Reform vision and programme:

• Ireland and the Commonwealth
• Anglo-Irish Relations
• Reform of the Irish Constitution
• Irish and British identities in Ireland
• The Protestant minority in Ireland
• Relations with the majority community in Ireland
• Secular and Pluralist trends in Ireland
• Northern unionist views of the South
• Southern unionist views of the North
• The Northern Question in southern Irish politics
• Towards a New Pluralist History of Modern Ireland

Speakers

A mixture of Reform members/supporters, academics and dignitaries.

Venue

Dublin is the obvious place because of concentration of members and external transport links. Also is important is media concentration in Dublin. But Cork is possible alternative, if participants/speakers willing to travel.

Attendance

200-300, maybe more for headline speakers.

Date

A weekend conference, beginning on Friday evening and concluding Sunday afternoon, with various social events in between. If we have enough speakers/participants we can run parallel sessions/workshops.