Fianna Fail backbenchers appear reluctantly willing to accept changes in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution as part of a Northern settlement involving strong North-South bodies and changes in the Government of Ireland Act.
TDs contacted yesterday said that, while party members were deeply attached to the sentiments in Articles 2 and 3, they felt that this would not stand in the way of an overall settlement.
The Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party was warned by the Taoiseach before Christmas that changes in Articles 2 and 3 were on the agenda in the Northern Ireland talks. If changes were agreed in the talks, he said then, these would have to be put to the people as part of an overall settlement.
Most backbenchers contacted yesterday by The Irish Times expressed opposition to changes in the Articles in isolation, but agreed that changes had to be considered in the context of a deal.
"Nobody is going to stand in the way of a settlement in Northern Ireland on the grounds of Articles 2 and 3", according to Ms Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West). She added that she would like to see an aspiration to a united Ireland replace the Articles.
Two deputies expressed strong reluctance to change. Mr Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central) said he had a strong personal attachment to the Articles and many in the party would find change "a hard pill to swallow".
Mr Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West) said he was opposed to any change in Article 2, which defines the national territory, and said changes in "the tone" of Article 3 could be made if there were North-South bodies with executive powers and if Section 75 of the Government of Ireland Act was amended.
However, most deputies expected change to be accepted within the party if there was agreement in the Northern talks. The Cork North West deputy, Mr Michael Moynihan, said yesterday that he had expected "a terrible backlash" from within the Fianna Fail organisation arising from the report that Articles 2 and 3 would be amended as part of an overall settlement.
"But I have heard a lot of support for it, and I've been surprised by that. But people are adopting a wait-and-see attitude and will want to look at the overall settlement before making up their minds," he said. ail policy, but in the context of a settlement I think changes could be carried."
According to Mr Sean Ardagh (Dublin South Central), if there were "changes in the Government of Ireland Act, a new structure in Northern Ireland and new North-South bodies, then I don't think we could but consider a change in Article 2".
Mr Eoin Ryan (Dublin South East) reflected the view of many deputies. He said that the success of any proposal to amend the Articles would depend on the quality of the North-South bodies in a Northern settlement.
Much also depended on the views of the Northern nationalist parties. "If the deal was acceptable to the SDLP and Sinn Fein, then it probably wouldn't be a problem, but if a significant body of nationalist opinion in the North did not support the deal, then it would be very difficult."