Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Far too divisive’ to hold border poll now
Taoiseach vows to build relations
THE Taoiseach yesterday ruled out a border poll saying it would be “far too divisive” if it was held now.
Ireland’s new leader Micheal Martin said he instead wants to focus on building relationships to share the island of Ireland “in peace and harmony”.
He also urged an “injection of momentum” in Brexit talks between the UK and EU to find a deal to secure a deal before the end of the transition period.
Sinn Fein has been calling for a border poll amid the political turbulence caused by Brexit and uncertainty over future arrangements.
The new coalition Government of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the
Green Party includes an all-island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach “to develop fresh thinking around that”. Mr Martin the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show: “I want to inject greater momentum into the north-south dimension of the Good Friday Agreement, in terms of practical, pragmatic economic projects and activity that we can get under way.
“I think, to me, a border poll is far too divisive at this stage, it doesn’t deal with the more fundamental issue of how
we continue to live and work
YESTERDAY
together as we all live on this island, particularly in a post-brexit scenario.”
Mr Martin is due to visit Belfast for the first time as premier later this week.
First Minister Arlene Foster told the BBC’S Sunday Politics programme that she and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill will meet Mr Martin jointly.
The pair have not appeared together since Ms O’neill’s attendtold ance at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey in West Belfast on June 30.
Police in the North are probing the event for potential breaches of coronavirus regulations.
Mrs Foster said: “We will welcome him to Northern Ireland to have discussions, respecting jurisdictions, making sure that we look forward to the future in a way that doesn’t do any damage to the relationships which have come under pressure in over the last couple of years.”
She reiterated her belief that the message on social distancing has been damaged by Ms O’neill’s actions, but added: “It is now up to us all to try and rebuild that credibility... it’s important we don’t get distracted by looking at who is standing beside who but actually do the job of work of Government,
providing leadership.”