Sinn Féin Seanad Group Leader Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile today called on the Irish Government to begin preparations for constitutional change, citing yet another poll showing a majority in the North in favour of a Unity Referendum.

Speaking in the Seanad today, Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile said;

“At the weekend we saw a LucidTalk poll published that showed a clear majority in the North in favour of a referendum on Irish unity being held within the next five years.

“This is another poll in a series of polls that indicates that common trend.

“There is of course an irony in now having a US President who in the past has championed and advocated for Irish unity, and also having very senior figures from within political unionism acknowledging the need to be engaged in a conversation to prepare for future changes, yet we have a Taoiseach who buries his head in the sand.

“That position should not continue, the Irish Government must play a leading role in this vibrant, live and inclusive debate.

“It must plan for new constitutional realities by convening a citizens assembly and publishing a Green Paper on Irish Unity.

“We all have a stake in this debate and it’s outcomes – it is past time that the Irish Government fulfilled their constitutional and Good Friday Agreement obligations by planning for a Unity Referendum.”