Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD was responding to comments made by an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

She said that “there is nothing provocative about wanting a United Ireland” and “that the government has a responsibility to lead from the front in delivering Irish unity”.

Teachta McDonald said: “I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has acknowledged that the conversation about Irish unity is underway. However, saying that the government ‘might initiate’ a forum on Irish unity in the event of a no-deal Brexit is not a strong position. We need meaningful action now."

McDonald added: “There is a momentum building for Irish unity and we need political, institutional, and legislative arrangements in place to manage that. That preparation must include the convening of an All-Ireland Forum on Irish unity without delay. 

With the threat of a crash Brexit now a live prospect, it is irresponsible not to prepare for constitutional change."

McDonald continued: “The Taoiseach must make clear that in the event of no-deal Brexit that Irish unity is the solution to averting a hard border on our island.

A referendum on unity is expressly provided for in the Good Friday Agreement; an Agreement that was endorsed by the people of this island, north and south, overwhelmingly over twenty years ago."