Sinn Féin Uachtarán Mary Lou McDonald TD welcomes a call by Irish American groups to prepare for Irish Unity and set the date for a unity referendum.

Mary Lou McDonald said:

“Irish America has been central to the signing and safeguarding of the Good Friday Agreement.

“The central principle of the Agreement is the right of the people to determine their constitutional future.

“A unity referendum is the measure of that right and an essential commitment of the Agreement.

“Brexit, the British government breaking international law, and threats from unionism are a challenge to the Good Friday Agreement.

“Change is underway, it cannot be resisted but it must be managed. Now is the time to recommit, and not resile, from the commitment to peace and democracy.

“I commend the groups involved for their common sense call for the Irish government to prepare and promote Irish Unity as part of an informed, respectful and inclusive process and for the British government to set the date for the Unity Referendum.”