Sinn Fein calls on Dublin to plan for constitutional change

By Amanda Ferguson

Belfast – The chief of Sinn Fein in Northern Eire mentioned the Dublin authorities should begin planning for the possibilty of a referendum that might lead to a united Eire.

Talking to Reuters forward of Might 5 native elections within the British-run province that might see the nationalist get together grow to be the biggest within the devolved authorities for the primary time, Michelle O’Neill mentioned she was not “fixated on dates” for the referendum.

However folks “know constitutional change is coming” and it was irresponsible of Dublin to “to not be planning at this level”. It may happen earlier than the tip of this decade, she mentioned.

Beneath Northern Eire’s 1998 Good Friday peace settlement, which largely ended many years of violence between primarily Catholic nationalists searching for to merge with Eire and Protestant unionists who wish to stay a part of the UK, the British authorities can name a referendum on Irish reunification if a “sure” majority appears to be like probably.

“I feel the Irish authorities’s focus must be on planning for constitutional change. There should be a citizen’s meeting,” she mentioned.

“We've to have the wholesome dialog round what the all-island well being service will appear to be, what does training appear to be, what does the financial system appear to be.”

Britain’s departure from the European Union has additionally raised questions on Northern Eire’s future and its border with EU member Eire.

O’Neill mentioned that though the prospect of a referendum was a speaking level on the doorsteps, folks had been additionally very involved about the price of dwelling and the disaster within the well being service.

“I don’t see any contradiction in working in direction of that constitutional change and making an attempt to persuade folks of one thing higher whereas additionally being within the Govt and dealing with others to ship on the daily public companies the general public wish to be centered on.”

A latest ballot by The Institute of Irish Research on the College of Liverpool/The Irish Information put assist for the get together at 27%, extending its lead over the Democratic Unionist Occasion to virtually seven factors.