Key facts
- Ireland will establish a government body to research and prepare for potential future unity with Northern Ireland.
- The body will explore models and challenges for different constitutional outcomes.
- Prime Minister Micheal Martin aims for a credible discussion on constitutional futures.
- The Good Friday Agreement obliges the UK government to call a referendum if a majority in Northern Ireland favors unity.
DUBLIN, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Ireland will establish a government body to research and prepare for the possibility of future unity with Northern Ireland, Prime Minister Micheal Martin was quoted as saying on Friday.
Martin told the Irish Times that the new body would explore potential models and challenges for different outcomes, aiming to create an independent and dispassionate base of knowledge for credible discussions on constitutional futures.
He expressed concern that current pushes for a border poll are partisan and one-sided, not genuinely seeking to hear all voices. Under the Good Friday Agreement, the British government must call a referendum on Irish unity if a majority in Northern Ireland appears to back it.
While opinion polls show a majority in favor of remaining in the UK, the gap has narrowed since Brexit. Martin plans to bring the first steps of the proposal to cabinet before the end of the year. His government partner, Fine Gael, will publish a blueprint for a unified island at its annual conference next week.