‘We are nowhere near seeing a united Ireland’

Donaldson dismisses Sinn Féin’s border poll claims

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has dismissed Sinn Féin predictions of a border poll within ten years, stating: ‘We are nowhere near a united Ireland.’

Mr Donaldson said Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald must have the ‘longest arms on this island’ to say Irish unity is within touching distance.

It comes after the DUP gave the green light for the recall of the Stormont Assembly on the back of a deal with the British government on post-Brexit trading arrangements, following the party’s two-year boycott. Last week, two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement to resurrect devolution were fast-tracked through the House of Commons. Mr Donaldson has said the new arrangements have effectively removed the so-called Irish Sea border for goods moving from Great Britain to, and staying in, the North.

However, the return of Stormont led to Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill becoming the region’s first nationalist First Minister.

Ms McDonald said Irish unity is now within ‘touching distance’ and Ms O’Neill predicted a border poll within ten years. But the DUP leader told The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk that he didn’t think ‘anyone with any credibility believes that this is the case’.

He added: ‘There is nothing to suggest there has been a significant shift in public opinion in Northern Ireland. All polling data points to a very strong majority in favour of remaining in the UK.

‘Let’s face it, Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland represent about 2728% of the vote, that’s a long way shy of a majority. Unless Mary Lou McDonald has the longest arms on this island, I don’t think she is anywhere close to touching distance. As for the ten years, Gerry Adams once predicted there would be a united Ireland by 2016; we are almost ten years on from that and we are nowhere near a united Ireland.’

Mr Donaldson also said he wanted to see closer mutual cooperation between the North and the Republic. ‘I think there is so much we can work on together, to co-operate on,’ he added.

‘All this talk coming from Sinn Féin, one party talking up a divisive border poll at a time when I think the people of Northern Ireland want to see their politicians working together, focusing on the real issues now that matter to them – health, education, housing, childcare support, prosperity, jobs – all of these things matter to people. We are up for working for others to deliver a better future for everyone in Northern Ireland.

‘I think all this talk of a border poll is just that. I think Sinn Féin are trying to up the ante, they are trying to reassure their base after the gains the DUP have made in this agreement that bind Northern Ireland more closely into the United Kingdom.’

Mr Donaldson said that ‘it is really smoke to cover what they know and recognise: we are not moving closer to a united Ireland’. He also denied that a strike by public sector workers in the North was a major factor in persuading his party to return to Stormont.

The UK government has offered a £3.3billion (€3.8million) financial package, including a sum to settle public sector pay claims, but it was dependent on the return of the powersharing institutions.

‘It’s smoke to cover what they know’