Sinn Fein border poll pre-condition ‘a necessity’ for entering government

Mary Lou McDonald underlined the importance of her party’s red line in any talks with a possible coalition partner after the General Election.

Sinn Fein’s border poll pre-condition for entering government is not an exotic red line but an absolute necessity, Mary Lou McDonald has said.

The party president made clear that she would only be part of an Irish government that is committed to pushing for a referendum on unity and laying the groundwork for a debate on constitutional change.

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail continue to rule out Sinn Fein as potential junior partners in government.

Sinn Fein wants a border poll within five years.

On a visit to the Armagh/Louth border hours before the UK left the EU, Ms McDonald was asked how red her red line was.

“It’s a necessity,” she replied.

“I have said very clearly that I believe that we should have a border poll within the next five years and more importantly that preparations for constitutional change need to start.

“This shouldn’t be written up as some sort of exotic red line for Sinn Fein, this is an absolute necessity.

“And I think responsible leaders, responsible politics plans for that, engages with that.

“You don’t bury your head in the sand and pretend that change isn’t happening – it is happening.

“So it is of course a central point for us in Sinn Fein but I would argue very clearly that this ought to be a central point for anybody, particularly anybody who wishes to see themselves as part of a government.

“This needs to be done and it needs to start now.”

“I think people are very keenly aware that things are changing, that Brexit has accelerated the conversation on Irish unity and increasingly I have a sense that people want to be part of that conversation,” she said.

The republican leader said young people in particular were “excited” by the prospect of unity and saw it as the opportunity to “fix things that are broken” in Irish society.