Press Association reports: The leader of Ireland’s main opposition party said he hopes Brexit will move Ireland closer to reunification.
Micheál Martin said a reunification referendum should be called if it becomes clear a majority want to see an end to Irish partition over the UK decision to leave the EU.
The Fianna Fáil leader added that Northern Ireland’s 56% majority vote to remain within the bloc could be a defining moment for the region. He made his remarks delivering the annual John Hume lecture at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal.
“It may very well be that the decision of Northern Ireland to oppose the English-driven anti-EU UK majority is a defining moment in Northern politics,” he said.
“The remain vote may show people the need to rethink current arrangements. I hope it moves us towards majority support for unification, and if it does we should trigger a reunification referendum.
“However, at this moment the only evidence we have is that the majority of people in Northern Ireland want to maintain open borders and a single market with this jurisdiction, and beyond that with the rest of Europe.” [Continue reading…]
This was an insensitive comment made by the opposition leader in order to head off the growing popularity of the other ‘republican’ party Sinn Fein.
Neither government – Great Britain nor the Republic of Ireland – are interested in such a venture. It would mean, among other concerns, the transfer of inter-ethnic and economic problems from the stronger economy to the lesser one and at a time when Brexit is likely to bring many negative issues to both. Moreover majority rules in Northern Ireland who have demonstrated time after time their wish to remain part of Great Britain.