The Government is risking a Brexit-style crash out by not actively preparing for Irish reunification, a senator has said.
It was confirmed in official correspondence that the Government is not conducting internal risk assessments on a border poll.
Joe Hackett, assistant secretary to the Chief Risk Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs, confirmed to Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly that he could “confirm that Departmental Committees are not specifically engaged on the question of a referendum on a united Ireland”.
He referred Mr Daly to the text of the National Risk Assessment 2019 published earlier this year, which said: “Although a border poll would not be regarded a risk, and the very important and sensitive policy issues related to it would not be dealt with in the National Risk Assessment process, the questions of relationships on the island of Ireland and between the two islands are always considered part of the annual National Risk Assessment.”
Mr Daly believes the Government is acting recklessly by not conducting such assessments in light of changing attitudes in Northern Ireland, reflected in the latest British general election, where a nationalist majority of politicians has been elected to Westminster for the first time in Northern Ireland’s history.
“The Government must learn the lesson of the disastrous Brexit referendum in Britain, any referendum requires long-term detailed planning in advance,” he said.
“A referendum on a United Ireland should only be held at the very end of a long process.
“The planning for a United Ireland requires engagement with all sides, particularly the Unionist community, only 60% of whom believe Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK in 10 years’ time.
“The calling of a referendum should be the very end of a long process of engagement and agreement on a United Ireland. However it is not a decision of the Irish Government or Taoiseach.
“It is the sole decision of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and he has refused to say who he is going to allow to vote in the referendum, which is also a power given to him as part of the laws passed after the Good Friday Agreement.
“Until we know who is allowed to vote we cannot say whether a majority is or is not in favor of a United Ireland.”
Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin and Fine Gael Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have both stated that they do not believe it is the right time for any border poll on reunification, however Sinn Féin has been vocal on its belief that Ireland should be preparing for such an event in light of Brexit.
Senator Daly compiled, for the Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee, the first report by a Dáil and Senate Committee on Uniting Ireland titled “Brexit & the Future of Ireland: Uniting Ireland and her People in Peace and Prosperity”.
To date, none of the 17 recommendations which were adopted unanimously by the all-party committee have been acted upon by the Government
There will be a debate on the report for the Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee on Uniting Ireland when the Senate returns next year.