Mary Lou McDonald has said that there will be a United Ireland referendum by 2030.
The Sinn Féin leader was speaking following the restoration of the Northern Ireland executive, where her party is now the largest caucus in Belfast for the first time since the Good Friday Agreement came into effect.
Asked about DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson’s comment that she must have the “longest arms on this island” to state Irish unity is within touching distance, Ms McDonald laughed.
“First of all, I don’t think anybody should be surprised at a unionist advocating a unionist position, I would expect that and I respect that by the way,” she told Sky News.
“As your viewers will know there is an outstanding constitutional question on the island of Ireland. We’ve been partitioned for more century now, but politics (and) life expectations have changed right across the country.
“And as per the Good Friday Agreement which is now 26 years old there’s a provision for border polls to adjudicate whether, A, the union with Britain continues or whether we reunify.
“I firmly and passionately believe that our best opportunities are when we are united economically, socially, and politically.
“I think recent elections in the north of Ireland and at the weekend, (with) my colleague Michelle O’Neill becoming for the first time, a Sinn Fein first minister in the north, are just indicators of a profound change that’s happening in Ireland.”
Ms McDonald clarified that when she said unity is within touching distance, she did not mean “that it’s happening next week or next month”
“So you don’t have to have those long arms that Jeffrey refers to,” she added, “but what I am saying, what I firmly believe is, in this decade we will have those referendums.
“And it’s my job, and the job of people like me who believe in reunification to win hearts and minds and to convince people of that opportunity”
Pressed on what time scale she was talking about, Ms McDonald replied: “I envisage us having the referendums in this decade”, and before 2030.
“Let me say, that is not so far away so there’s an awful lot of work that needs to be done.
“I’ve said consistently to the government in Dublin that they really need to take possession of this conversation that’s now underway right across Ireland and they need to give us a structure and a place.
“And of course it has to be inclusive. We want to hear from every voice including those for whom reunification would not be their first option, (for) those who go out and campaign for the union.
“Nevertheless we all live together, that’s never going to change. We share Ireland, we love Ireland, and we want what’s best for our children, for our grandchildren.
“I think that’s the strongest most powerful common ground that we all share.”
Meanwhile, support for Sinn Féin is its lowest level in three years, a new poll has revealed.
The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll has seen support for the party drop to 28pc, a six-point decrease from the previous poll in September.
Gains have not been picked up by the Government parties however, with Sinn Féin holding an eight-point lead over Fianna Fáil (20pc) and a nine-point lead over Fine Gael (19pc).
Fianna Fáil has seen no change compared to the September poll while Fine Gael has gained just 1pc. Their coalition partners the Greens have been given a boost, rising from 3pc to 5pc.
The latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll last weekend showed support for Sinn Féin on 29pc, down one point compared with January, with support for Fine Gael down one point to 1pc and support for Fianna Fáil unchanged on 17pc.
Social Democrats’ support has jumped from 2pc to 4pc, Labour is up one point to 4pc and Independents/others have also enjoyed an increase in support, up three points to 25pc.
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