Confederation of Leylandiistan & Gurvata

Confederation of Leylandiistan & Gurvata Cónaidhm Léiloindístáin agus an Gurbhata (ga) Lelondyvata we Gurvata (gurvatan)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Ní neart go chur le chéile (Unity is achieved through Strength)
Anthem: Our Motherland
File:Cork, Ireland
Capital and largest city	Orchardstown, Leylandiistan
Official languages	Gaeilge, English
Demonym(s)	Leylandiistani, Gurvatan
Government	Diarchy
• Co - President for Leylandiistan	Fionnbarra Ó Cathail
• Co - President for Gurvata	Pádraig Ó Ceocháin
Establishment	Leylandiistan:3 November 2012 Gurvata: 17 July 2014 Treaty of Union: 30 August 2014
Population
• Census	9
Currency	Euro
Time zone	(GMT +0)
Website Website (obsolete)
Preceded by Democratic Republic of Leylandiistan Republic of Gurvata
Member of the GUM, IADP and SJEP

The Confederation of Leylandiistan and Gurvata, often referred to as Leylandiistan & Gurvata (in Irish Cónaidhm Léiloindístáin agus Gurbhata) was a micronation located in south-western Ireland. It was formed following the union of the Democratic Republic of Leylandiistan and the Republic of Gurvata on 30 August 2014. The two main constituents, Leylandiistan and Gurvata, were located about 200 metres from one another. The system of government was a diarchy, as it was ruled by two Co-Presidents who held both executive and legislative power. The country's economy was mostly agricultural, with both areas of the Confederation producing food. All three territorial claims of the Confederation were located within County Cork, Ireland. The Confederation was a member of the Grand Unified Micronational and a founding member of International Agricultural Development Pact. Leylandiistan and Gurvata was dissolved in September 2016.

History

From May 2014 activity began to decline in the government of the Democratic Republic of Leylandiistan. The two constituent autonomous republics at the time, Robinscourt and Cubbyhole, began to drift apart politically and economically. As the situation became more frustrating, the first new National Assembly met for the first time since March on July 17, 2014. The meeting was the end of the Democratic Republic as it had been for the past year and a half. Robinscourt seceded from Leylandiistan and later rejoined Ireland. Cubbyhole, left on its own with three citizens, was desperate for more land and citizens. President Ó Cathail began negotiations for a merger with the Republic of Gurvata. After a final round of negotiations, the Treaty of Union was signed between Leylandiistan and Gurvata on 20 August 2014, merging both states into a federal diarchy, creating the Confederation of Leylandiistan and Gurvata.

Following the union, the new diarchical executive began . On 7 September 2014, Dooneen Cove Island was annexed by the Confederation, and on 24 September 2014, the Annexation of Dooneen Cove Island Act 2014 brought Dooneen Cove Island under the jurisdiction of the Confederation. The National Treasury Act was signed into law on 1 October. This created the National Treasury of Leylandiistan & Gurvata, which acts as a revenue commissioner, government finance ministry, economic statistics office and safeguarder of the government's financial assets. It also helps the government dictate the National Budget. The act also created a National Contribution Charge, a flat-rate monthly tax paid by citizens. Other bodies set up to manage various aspects of the Confederation's administration include the Ordnance Survey of Leylandiistan & Gurvata, a cartographic agency, and the State Organic Regulation Authority to regulate organic agriculture and products within the Confederation.

In July 2015 the Co-Presidents proposed devolving some power to a local level. They passed the Devolution of Financial Powers Act, creating Regional Treasuries in Gurvata and Leylandiistan to collect taxes like the National Contribution Charge. However, this devolution was repealed after the government felt it created unnecessary bureaucracy in September. This resulted in taxation duties returning to the National Treasury. A few days later, a border sign was erected at Dooneen Cove Island almost a year after its annexation. This was the first physical display of sovereignty by the Government of the Confederation. A bridge constructed from a wooden pallet was erected over a gap in the middle of the island following the erection of the sign.

The winter of 2015 saw a number of environmentally-centred legislation being signed into law by the Co-Presidents. The Municipal Waste Collection Act 2015 allowed the government to collect certain forms of waste in order to be processed, for example food waste to make compost. This was followed in January 2016 by the Biodiversity Protection Act 2016, which created a National Seed Bank and allowed areas to be set aside as nature reserves.At the end of January 2016, the Co-Presidents released a programme for the year ahead, entitled simply as "Plan for 2016". It put forward a number of proposals in areas such as finance, justice and culture, and offered a mid-year financial statement from the National Treasury. It was the first programme for government released in the nation's history.

In 2016 the Confederation began trading goods with other states. Following bilateral discussion with Lundenwic, it was agreed that cookies from Lundenwic would be traded with seeds produced by the state-owned Confederation Seeds Company. After the first instance of a goods exchange in April 2016, media outlets from both countries reported on the success of the arrangement. Following the rejuvination of the Grand Unified Micronational, the government decided to hold a referendum on ratifying the new Charter of the organisation. The population of the Confederation voted unanimously to accept the Charter, making the Confederation one of the first 18 members of the restarted GUM.

Dissolution

Popular sentiment in favour of continued sovereignty began to decline over the course of 2016. While projects aimed at self-sufficiency were deemed successful, the desire among many to continue as a state separate to the Republic of Ireland faded in a way not seen since the formation of the Confederation in 2014. In addition, the Government began to consider its "Plan for 2016" to be almost completely implemented by the middle of the year, leaving it with few remaining objectives. Government discussions during meetings of the diarchal executive, following the referendum on GUM membership, continued to discuss economic development, but also began to include discussion on viable paths to dissolution of the union. Over the course of the summer of 2016, preparations were made to allow the Government to dissolve the Confederation in a legally sound, responsible and competent way. After celebrations of two years of the Confederation were held on Union Day, August 30, 2016, the Government decided to execute its planned dissolution. Ó Cathail tendered his resignation as Chair of the GUM following the announcement of the country's planned dissolution on 11 September. Three days later, on 14 September 2016, the Co-Presidents gathered at Orchardstown to sign the Treaty of Dissolution, an agreement which repealed the Treaty of Union, and dissolved the Confederation as well as both of its constituent states. The Confederation's flag was lowered for the last time and the Irish tricolour was raised, thus marking a definitive end to the micronation.

Government

The government of Leylandiistan & Gurvata consists of a diarchy. The two Co-Presidents of the Confederation act as joint heads of state and collectively as a legislature. The Co-Presidents each represent their area. Leylandiistan's Co-President is Fionnbarra Ó Cathail, and Gurvata's is Pádraig Ó Ceocháin. With their unanimous support, legislation is signed into law. The first act passed by the Co-Presidents included a provision stating that the addition of a third inhabited constituent to the Confederation would mean a new representative legislature would have to be formed. The main aims of the current government are to compose a new constitution to replace the Treaty of Union, to expand the citizenry of the Confederation, to create more national institutions and develop a functioning economy, all of which are slowly but surely being worked on.

Several items of legislation, or Acts, were signed into law by the Co-Presidents. The Annexation of Dooneen Cove Island Act 2014 incorporated Dooneen Cove Island into the Confederation as territory. The Revised Foreign Policy Act 2014 set up the Foreign Office and the position of the Foreign Secretary, as well as the first major revision of the Confederation's foreign policy. The National Treasury Act 2014 set up the National Treasury to control the government's finances, as well as creating the position of National Treasurer.

Political parties were non-existent in the Confederation, compared to their significance in the Democratic Republic of Leylandiistan (before March 2014). The only political party which existed to some extent, Conradh Daonlathais, was dormant apart from use of its logo during the GUM membership referendum. This referendum was the only plebiscite held by the Government, and no elections were held in the Confederation for the duration of its existence. Thus, the Co-Presidents effectively provided over an enlightened autocratic system which did not depend on a popular mandate.

Economy

The euro was the official currency of the Confederation, as the Leylandiistan lira was officially phased out on 1 October 2014. The financial authority in the Confederation was the National Treasury of Leylandiistan & Gurvata. Pádraig Ó Ceocháin was the National Treasurer for the duration of the state's existent, a position equivalent to a Finance Secretary. As treasurer he is responsible for managing taxation and government finances. The Treasury collects taxes, and the Co-Presidents publish a budget for planned income and expenditure each year, aided by data collected by the treasury. The Treasury funds the activities of the government, and the entire state monetary assets of the government are held in the Treasury's safe.

Agriculture was by far the main economic activity in the Confederation. Both Leylandiistan and Gurvata dedicated portions of land for agricultural purposes. In Gurvata, tomato, blueberry and sunflower are the staple crops, while Leylandiistan cultivates apples, peas, salads and grains. In addition, various varieties of other fruits and vegetables are grown each year. The Confederation Seeds Company markets and exports seeds produced by the farmers of the Confederation, and released its first catalogue with seven varieties in Autumn 2015. Seeds marketed by the company have been exported to Lundenwic and Cinnamon Creek.

Media

The media in Leylandiistan was entirely under state ownership. The Democratic Republic of Leylandiistan had a government owned umbrella-group called Leylandiistan Media, known as HGL News until late 2012, which controlled the nation's four media outlets; Leylandiistan TVBS, the Cubbyhole Informant, the Leylandiistan Sentinel and Béal na Tíre. Though never officially closed, the Cubbyhole Informant ceased publication after Issue 3 in Spring 2013, while Leylandiistan TVBS only released a small number of video clips via a Vimeo Channel. The Leylandiistan Sentinel was more successful, and published 16 issues between February 2013 and March 2014. It fell into dormancy around the time of the government hiatus. When the Division of Leylandiistan occurred, it was agreed the Sentinel would be handed over to the new Maple Federation to help develop their media sector with an established outlet, though the nation dismantled two weeks later.

Beal na Tíre's homepage

Béal na Tíre was the only outlet of Leylandiistan Media which survived the Division of Leylandiistan. It was originally established as the Irish language news journal in the form of a Wordpress blog in December 2013. When the Sentinel fell into dormancy, it became the main national media outlet. After the Division of Leylandiistan, it continued to be used, and was adopted as the Confederation's national media outlet. It published regular content on current affairs in the Confederation up until the country's dissolution, and though state-owned, it retained a policy of total impartiality.

Foreign Affairs

Treaties the Democratic Republic of Leylandiistan had signed with other nations were carried forward, and continue to be in force between the Confederation and the respective states. The Revised Foreign Policy Act of 2014 was signed into law by the Co-Presidents on 24 September 2014. This act established a dedicated office known as the Foreign Office, which handled all of the Confederation's external affairs. The Foreign Secretary ran the Foreign Office on behalf of the government. The Foreign Secretary throughout the Confederation's existence was Fionnbarra Ó Cathail.

Leylandiistan & Gurvata was an active member of the Grand Unified Micronational. It first became a GUM member in January 2014. From March to September that year, Fionnbarra Ó Cathail served two terms as the GUM's Secretary for Media Affairs and Public Relations. On 14 September 2014 he was elected Vice-Chair of the GUM. The nation's GUM membership lasted until the organisation dissolved in June 2015, and was reinitiated following the organisation's revival after a referendum was held on membership. The Confederation was one of the first 18 states to join the re-established GUM in June 2016. Following the Leylandiistan & Gurvata was also a member of the Saint Josephsburg Economic Pact, which acts as a micronational economic zone or community, and the International Agricultural Development Pact, an agricultural co-operation group.

Gallery

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  The flag of the Confederation flying at Dooneen Cove Island.

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  The flag of the Confederation flying at Orchardstown, Leylandiistan