Sinn Fein leader sets timetable for Irish unity referendum
Michelle O'Neill has called for an Irish unity referendum within five years.
Addressing republicans at an Easter commemoration in Belfast's Milltown cemetery, the Sinn Fein deputy leader said: "Ending partition has now taken on a new dynamic because of Brexit...
"Because Brexit exposes the undemocratic nature of partition.
"Sinn Fein believes there should be a referendum vote on Irish unity within the next five years."
A very happy Easter everyone. Beannachtaí na Càsca oraibh pic.twitter.com/5mAFskMG1d
-- michelle oneill (@moneillsf) April 1, 2018
Her wide-ranging speech also touched on the Good Friday Agreement, which marks its 20th anniversary this month, and the current Stormont impasse.
Ms O'Neill said republicans had engaged in political talks for over a year and repeated criticisms of the DUP for walking away.
She said: "The leadership of both parties reached a fair and balanced accommodation - a draft agreement
- which we felt could address our concerns, and provide a basis to restore the Executive without further delay.
"However, Arlene Foster and the DUP leadership failed to deliver on this and chose to withdraw
from the talks and collapse the process.
"For now, they are under no pressure from the British Government to move, because Theresa May is
in hock to the DUP.
"It's no surprise the British Government has put its self-interest before ours.
"But let's be very clear here today the rights issues are not going away.
"We are not going away."
FREE PALESTINE Day of Action!Tomorrow 3.30pm Falls Road International Wall!Today Israeli soldiers massacred Palestinian civilians, killing 17 & injuring over 700.Show your solidarity tomorrow!Please attend, bring flags and stand with the people of Palestine. Ógra Shinn Féin pic.twitter.com/G52gBCd4OR
-- Belfast Sinn Féin (@belfastsinnfein) March 30, 2018
Northern Ireland has been without a government since January 2017.
The devolved Stormont institutions fell when Martin McGuinness resigned amid a row over a botched
green energy scheme.
However divisions between the two biggest parties have widened to include Irish language rights,
the ban on gay marriage and dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland's toxic past.
Meanwhile, Ms O'Neill also spoke about the recent violence in Palestine and called for the Irish government to expel the Israeli ambassador.
"So the Taoiseach should send the Israeli ambassador home and move immediately to recognise the state of Palestine."
