Sinn Féin: Government should lead delivery of Irish unity

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD said that "the government has a responsibility to lead from the front in delivering Irish unity".

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."