Dublin City Council passes motion on a border poll for Irish unity
The motion was passed at a council meeting last night.
The motion read: 'That this Council calls on the Irish Government to work with the Northern Executive to ensure that the democratic wishes of the people of the North of Ireland to remain within the EU (as per the Brexit referendum vote) is respected and facilitated through a border poll. The provision for a referendum on Irish Unity is enshrined in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which was overwhelmingly voted for by Citizens North and South of this Island.'
Speaking at the Dublin City Council meeting last night, Sinn Féin Cllr Carney Boud said: “Sinn Féin will continue to challenge for the best interests of Ireland within the EU. Currently, this small island is run by three governments, has two currencies, two welfare systems, two health systems, two education systems, and two tax systems . This is not about whether we can afford Irish Unity; we can no longer afford partition.
“So what do we need? We need this discussion of a United Ireland to begin now. We need to prepare for Brexit. We don't need the issue to become a political football. Sinn Féin do not claim to own this campaign. Of course, a United Ireland has always been one of our objectives, but for us, it’s about inclusively. It cannot be about a political battle of ideology; it's about the people.
“Now is the right time to give people hope beyond Brexit, give the people their say and show leadership, particularly at a time when the North is in such political and economic turmoil with the resignation of Martin McGuinness over Arlene Foster's refusal to step aside and the continued DUP arrogance.”