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The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he would not rule out a Citizens\u2019 Assembly on a United Ireland, but questioned whether Unionists living in Northern Ireland would partake in it.<\/p>\nThe Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he would not rule out a Citizens\u2019 Assembly on a United Ireland, but questioned whether Unionists living in Northern Ireland would partake in it.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar told the D\u00e1il today he would not rule out holding an assembly, but said it is a very \u201csensitive time\u201d on both sides of the border in Ireland.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in has been calling for the establishment of an all-Ireland Citizens\u2019 Assembly to discuss the potential for Irish unity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should not forget what the Good Friday Agreement is all about. It\u2019s about acknowledging that Northern Ireland has a unique history and geography, and therefore, has special arrangements regarding power-sharing in Northern Ireland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to the issue of a Citizens\u2019 Assembly, as I said before it\u2019s certainly not something that I rule out and it is something that I will give consideration to at the right point in time.\u201d Mr Varadkar said the current political stalemate at Stormont and a General Election being held in the UK means now is not the right time to call for a Citizens\u2019 Assembly, adding it is a \u201csensitive time\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are two weeks or so from Westminster elections which are happening in Northern Ireland, as well as in Great Britain. The Northern Assembly are not functioning and the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is in the balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe might find ourselves in two or three months\u2019 time in a very different place. We might find ourselves in a more stable situation and in a better political environment to progress these kinds of ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said if Unionists living in Northern Ireland did not take part in the Citizens\u2019 Assembly, it would skew the results.<\/p>\n
“I think we need to bear in mind \u2013 would unionists participate in the Citizens\u2019 Assembly? A million of them, making up half the population in Northern Ireland on a very significant minority on this island. Would British citizens living in Northern Ireland participate in the Citizens Assembly?<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if they would not, that would fundamentally change the nature of that Citizens\u2019 Assembly, because it would seek to discuss the constitutional future of this island,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar added if Unionists did not partake, the Citizens\u2019 Assembly would become a \u201cpan-Nationalist\u201d assembly, rather than one representing citizens across Ireland.<\/p>\n