The Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has said the “hard yards” to prepare for Irish unity must start now and reiterated her calls for conversations around preparation, dialogue and inclusion to take place now, ahead of any possible future referendum.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with David McCullagh programme, Ms McDonald said: “This transition from a partition to [a] united Ireland has to be absolutely peaceful. It has to be democratic. It has to be.
“It has to include all shades of opinion, from all across the spectrum, right across our island, including voices from unionism and loyalism, and that’s not just going to happen by chance.
“The Government in Dublin needs to be very front-footed from here on in, in shaping and clearing the space for that democratic conversation.”
Ms McDonald said US President Donald Trump’s comments on a united Ireland are welcome and helpful but not unanticipated.
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Speaking in Ireland over the weekend, Mr Trump said that he would “love” to see a united Ireland.
Mr Trump said that he does not “want to cause any problems”.
“But I will tell you, I’d love to see it unified. I have friends on both sides,” he said.
“You know what? The way I look at it, it’s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now,” said Mr Trump.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said Mr Trump’s comments on a united Ireland “should come as a surprise to no one”.
“Over the years the president has been consistent in his view that he sees unity in Ireland as the optimal outcome,” he said in a statement.
Ms McDonald said it is the first time that the sentiment has been expressed so explicitly from a US president but that it is part of long-standing efforts over successive US governments and bi-partisan support in Washington.
The Sinn Féin leader said she welcomed Mr Trump’s comments and said it is always welcome when a senior political figure recognises and makes statements on these matters.
She said that whoever the serving Taoiseach is has an absolute duty and obligation to take care of the interests of Ireland.
She added that “Micheál Martin needs to catch up” on the matter.
Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill, SNP leader John Swinney and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth will meet in Cardiff, where they are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding pushing for referendums in their respective countries.
The trio will meet in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments.