Taoiseach rules out border poll for 5 years
No unity referendum on my watch, says Martin
MICHEAL Martin has dashed hopes of a united Ireland on his watch, saying there will not be a border poll in the next five years.
The Tao is each yesterday ruled out a referendum during his time as Taoiseach, stating “no” when asked directly.
And Mr Martin also played down the prospects of a united Ireland at any stage in the near future as he emphasised a “shared” Ireland instead.
He said it was not about uniting “territory ” for him, speaking after a Shared Island breakfast briefing in Dublin Castle.
His remarks will be seen as a watering down of Fianna Fail’ s long-standing principles and the party’s stated ambition. It will come as a shock to many of the party ’s grassroots members who see the republican tagline as crucial and intrinsic to the party’s identity.
And it comes as Fine Gael appear to move more towards republicanism with Tanaiste Simon Cove ne yin 2018 saying he wants to see a united Ireland in his “political lifetime”.
Mr Martin said: “I ’m passionate about the Good Friday Agreement and the implications of what that entails.
“And that means the British- Irish dimension, the North- South dimension and the traditions on the island.
“I believe we have a lot to do to realise that potential, so my focus is on building, strengthening and nurturing the shared relationships on the island, to a greater degree than has been done to date.
“I mean politically, culturally and socially, business- wise as well.
“I ’m a republican that believes in the unity of Catholic, Protestant and dissenter, but also the sharing of ideas.
“It depends what one means about a united Ireland.
“To me, a shared island is something we should always aspire to.
“It’s not territorial for me, it never was.
“I’ ve heard all the rhetoric, I’ ve heard it for years. When I was growing up it was Brits out, that gets you nowhere.”
Heard it for years.. Brits out, that gets you nowhere MICHEAL MARTIN YESTERDAY