“Strange and unusual”: Leitrim councillor hits back at Taoiseach's comments on united Ireland poll

Leitrim Sinn Féin Cllr Padraig Fallon has challenged what he calls Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s “strange and unusual” claims on the border poll debate. 

The claims came as Taoiseach Martin said this week that there will be no poll on Irish unity before 2030 and accused Sinn Féin of using the border poll as a narrative at election times.

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Cllr Fallon said:“A border poll will be held. Nobody has a veto on that happening. It is the Taoiseach’s job to prepare and manage the constitutional change that is coming, and he should do his job instead of trying to rewrite history and block change.”

“Twice in a week, the Taoiseach has shown complete disregard for the Good Friday Agreement in relation to Irish Unity. Firstly, he falsely claimed that Sinn Féin had ‘invented’ the provision for a border poll after Brexit, when it is a core provision of the Good Friday Agreement which his government signed up to in 1998.”

Sinn Féin has been pushing the Government in recent weeks to prepare for a border poll within the next five years, however the Taoiseach has said that more work is needed to unite people on the Island before a poll can be called, despite his office not having the power to call or veto a poll.

“The constitutional duty is on the Taoiseach and a future president to champion Ireland’s future and to lead the preparation for referendums,” said Cllr Fallon.

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According to the Good Friday Agreement, the Secretary of state for Northern Ireland can call a border poll “if at any time it appears likely to him that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland".

“We are just over two years away from the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. This is a milestone moment to shape our future.“

“Inch by inch, we are getting closer and closer to Irish Unity, and the only person pretending that is not the case is the person whose job it is to lead and to prepare for the constitutional change that is coming. It is beyond reckless to keep his head in the sand at such an important moment for our island.”

“The commitment to holding referendums must be honoured. That is what is in the Good Friday Agreement, and that is what the people voted for.”

Sinn Féin had included plans for a united Ireland as part of its 2024 general election campaign, which would see MPs from the North granted speaking rights in the Oireachtas.