The Government is risking a Brexit-style crash out by not actively preparing for Irish reunification, a senator has said.
It was confirmed in official correspondence that the Government is not conducting internal risk assessments on a border poll or Irish reunification.
Joe Hackett, assistant secretary to the Chief Risk Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs, confirmed to Fianna Fail Senator Mark Daly that he could “confirm that Departmental Committees are not specifically engaged on the question of a referendum on a united Ireland”.
Government is acting recklessly
He referred Mr Daly to the text of the National Risk Assessment 2019 published earlier this year, which said: “Although a border poll would not be regarded a risk, and the very important and sensitive policy issues related to it would not be dealt with in the National Risk Assessment process, the questions of relationships on the island of Ireland and between the two islands are always considered part of the annual National Risk Assessment.”
Mr Daly believes the Government is acting recklessly by not conducting such assessments in light of changing attitudes in Northern Ireland, reflected in the latest general election, where a nationalist majority of MPs has been elected to Westminster for the first time in Northern Ireland’s history.
“The Government must learn the lesson of the disastrous Brexit referendum in Britain, any referendum requires long-term detailed planning in advance,” he said.
A referendum on a United Ireland
“A referendum on a United Ireland should only be held at the very end of a long process.
“The planning for a United Ireland requires engagement with all sides, particularly the Unionist community, only 60% of whom believe Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK in 10 years’ time.
“The calling of a referendum should be the very end of a long process of engagement and agreement on a United Ireland. However it is not a decision of the Irish Government or Taoiseach.
“It is the sole decision of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and he has refused to say who he is going to allow to vote in the referendum, which is also a power given to him as part of the laws passed after the Good Friday Agreement.
“Until we know who is allowed to vote we cannot say whether a majority is or is not in favour of a United Ireland.”
Good Friday Agreement
Both major party leaders, Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin and Fine Gael Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, have stated that they do not believe it is the right time for any border poll on reunification, however Sinn Fein has been vocal on its belief that Ireland should be preparing for such an event in light of Brexit.
Senator Daly compiled, for the Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee, the first report by a Dail and Senate Committee on Uniting Ireland titled “Brexit & the Future of Ireland: Uniting Ireland and her People in Peace and Prosperity”.
To date none of the 17 recommendations which were adopted unanimously by the all-party committee have been acted upon by the Government
There will be a debate on the report for the Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee on Uniting Ireland when the Senate returns next year.
Related: Boris Johnson hints Irish Sea bridge could be back on the agenda
Since you are here
Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.
Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.
Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.
If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.
To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.
The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.
The shop can be found here.
You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .
