The Scottish Government

A future Council of the Isles ...

Monday, March 17, 2008

Last month I was in Dublin for the British-Irish Council (BIC) - a body that brings together the two sovereign governments, three devolved administrations and three Island territories that form the British Isles.

The Council is an important forum for cross-border partnership and ensures that the nations of these Isles work together closely on a range of issues including drugs, energy transmission and climate change. These are issues where the best solutions require both determined action at a national level and partnership beyond our boundaries.

It is through the Council that many of the important social links that exist between the nations of these islands are maintained and indeed strengthened.

There are as many people of Irish descent as Scottish descent living in England, there are equally strong ties of family, economy and history. That is not an argument for Ireland becoming part of the UK once again; it is an argument for the sort of partnership that exists within the British-Irish Council.

I believe that what works today for independent Ireland will also work in the future for independent Scotland. I see a future Council of the Isles that becomes a body where three sovereign governments, two devolved administrations and three island territories work together.

Scotland would have a full and equal voice, we would have an appropriate forum to take forward and strengthen the social links that are so important to all the nations of these isles and we would have the ability to work together when needed and when agreed.

The British-Irish Council of today - and a future Council of the Isles, modelled on the extremely effective partnership of the Nordic Council between the independent nations of Scandinavia - is an example of the sort of modern, 21st century relationship that should exist between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

We will be friends and partners, neighbours who work closely together when we need to, while each having the ability to take forward our own priorities and develop the policies that meet the needs of our citizens and allow us to build our own nation's success.

Through a future Council of the Isles, and indeed through our membership of the EU, I can certainly see co-operation on security and climate change between Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the wider world. And at the same time Scotland would be free to decide, if we so choose, to create a more competitive taxation environment to stimulate economic growth, to invest our natural resources for the future and to increase the level of pension we pay older Scots.

Instead of these decisions being taken elsewhere as happens today, taking responsibility for these decisions in Scotland would allow us do more and do it better - to fine tune policy for specific Scottish needs.

Independence means co-operation with our nearest neighbours and the ability to take all the decisions needed to build national success - that is the lesson of Ireland. The British-Irish Council is proof that a more appropriate, more modern relationship of equals between the nations of these Islands is possible. Independence and partnership - it's a relationship that works.

Comments

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• 1. margaret hubbard - dundee scotland

  Monday, March 17, 2008 12:57

  Scotland and Ireland have alway's been great buddies, so I am pleased scotland and Ireland are going to work together for the good of the people.
  I would like to see a Government Minister for the ELDERLY in Scotland.
  We have a children's Minister. we are all vunerable. A fairer pension would make our lives easier, after working a life time. I am an SNP member, keep up the good work Nicola Alex and all our hard working MSP's. Forever My Homeland, Scotland the Free to rule herself.

• 2. Douglas Mackinnon - South Africa

  Monday, March 17, 2008 13:53

  The Council of the Isles should REPLACE
  Scotland's EU membership. Scotland will eventually loose control over it's immigration and it's national sovereignty if Scotland stays within the EU. Norway exists outside the EU but WITHIN the European Economic Area (EEA)having many of the benefits of EU membership without the obligations of EU membership. The EU's development funds are going to dry up for Scotland as more East European countries join, so Scotland will become a NETT DONOR rather than a NETT BENEFICIARY of EU funds, Scottish taxpayers will be footing the bill for Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, not to mention Albania and maybe even Turkey- God help us. GET OUT OF THE EU NOW. Scotland can join the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the new COUNCIL OF THE ISLES.
  
  

• 3. paul h - fife

  Monday, March 17, 2008 20:18

  I fully agree. We finally have a proper leader and government- what a novel experiance this is.

• 4. archie - aberdeenshire

  Monday, March 17, 2008 21:29

  Itruly hope that the younger generation are starting to read and take in all of what our current scottish government are saying about how are country should be run. The days of hearing the old unionist negativity about scotland are hopefully long gone.Well done snp keep it up

• 5. Jim Fleming - Stirling

  Monday, March 17, 2008 22:56

  Ireland (the Republic) is in many ways a great example for Scotland, and while we have much in common, we also have a different history, a different political experience and also different social democratic traditions. Our geographical location, the nature of our resources and not least our long-term social and economic aspirations also give us much in common with our Scandinavian and Dutch neighbours. I believe strongly we have a great deal to learn from all of them about national priorities and international co-operation (the joint Nordic Embassy of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in Berlin is a shining example of the latter). Above all, our neighbours in Ireland and Scandinavia can all give us the confidence and the vision to see what we could be, with independence.

• 6. nigel - Borders

  Tuesday, March 18, 2008 13:57

  A well reasoned quietly put argument, no one could deny the logic, no one has the basis grounded in empirical sense to deny it. To deny it on historical grounds or the status quo has no basis, it is just selfish individual's hanging on to a power that might have had a place in the past but times move on. Westminster will just have to be told the argument time and time again until they cooperate on a fraternal basis or simply Scotland should declare independence if they do not.

• 7. Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire

  Tuesday, March 18, 2008 18:59

  "Council of the Isles" sounds good to me. It's inclusive, non-xenophobic, non-religious, non-racial origin, relates to geography rather than history though not exluding any common historical roots. It also sounds romantic and approachable rather than grandiose and remote.
  
  It would also encompass and set the mechanism for co-operation to include an independent England which I'd forsee as a strong likelihood within 30 years at most of an independent Scotland, and includes the Isle of Wight just as much as Orkney and Shetland, Aran as much as Arran!
  
  It should not relinquish "sovereignty" by the members, but encourage co-operation and joint efforts and representation. It would be the acceptable voluntary face of "united". And could allay the understandable fears of those wary of independence.
  
  Go for it!

• 8. Jim Oliphant - East Wemyss Fife

  Wednesday, March 19, 2008 13:23

  Wednesday 19th. March 2008
  I applaude the S.N.P. on thier first year of government. Irelands and other small nations economy have blossomed and so can ours. Scotland should pull out all the stops to become self sufficient in its own renewable energy, Wind,Wave,Hydro,Solar,Tidal and Bio,and NATIONALISE IT. All the profits should be poured back into the industry and not into FAT CAT DIRECTORS TAX HAVEN BANK ACCOUNTS. Scotland is perfect to be a World Leader and rich in all these natural resources which would take the pressure of our Oil and Gas production industry perhaps saving some for future generations. The energy giants today are holding the people to
  randsom with thier vulgar and extortionate price increases and profits. GAS, ELECTRIC and WATER are essential to our existance not just a marketable product for sale and profit. Investment now will save the economy billions later. We can lead the world and depend on no one. I also think Scotland sould encourage the manufacture of alteranive fuel cars in Scotland. The world would flock to buy them, it is the only sensible way forward. Invest in and expand our national ROAD and RAIL NETWORKS they are the arteries of our nation. Open Scotland up to the World. It is the greatest nation on earth, give it the lifeblood which it needs to be all that it can be, instead of bleeding it dry like Westminster does. Westminsters only soloution is to TAX & PENALISE. I believe that the S.N.P. can come up with SOLUTIONS not BURDENS for the people of Scotland. Encourage INDUSTRY, encourage ENTERPRISE, encourage DEVELOPMENT, encourage TOURISM, encourage INVESTMENT, encourage FARMING and HOME GROWN PRODUCTS, but most of all ENCOURAGE PEOPLE because without them you have nothing. It is not about politics or policies but it is about what is best for Scotland as a Nation in the world today. Continue to listen to the people, they are the voice of the nation, and it is people who elect a govrnment or reject it. If you get the people behind you, then NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

• 9. ruth - west lothian

  Wednesday, March 19, 2008 21:07

  i am delighted by this next move in the progression hopefully towards full independence in our own right on the global stage. At last we have a government which puts scottish interests at the heart of the matter and recognises we can should and hopefully WILL enjoy the economic success of Ireland. Well done SNP!

• 10. flanobrien - paisley

  Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:51

  I am an Irish person living and working in Scotland. I have also lived and worked in London and Dublin. I consider Scotland to be home for my family as I consider London to be home for my sisters and dublin to be home for my parents and other siblings. I have watched Ireland closely move from a developing poor country of the 70's and 80's where its biggest export was its people to become one of the wealthiest countries in the world and a net importer of human resources from all over the globe. How did it do it? with some euros yes but mostly it grew up and stopped scratching at the chip on its shoulder called England. It is time for Scotland to do the same and this can only been done with independence. Ireland is now a proud and confident country. let scotland and indeed england follow.

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