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Sinn Fein has called for a referendum on a united Ireland following the abortion poll.<\/p>\nSinn Fein has called for a referendum on a united Ireland following the abortion poll.<\/p>\n
Deputy leader Michelle O\u2019Neill said constitutional issues had gained renewed prominence following Friday\u2019s Yes vote on changing the Irish constitution.<\/p>\n
She told ITV\u2019s Peston On Sunday: \u201cI think in terms of the conversation at home now it\u2019s very much about a union referendum, it\u2019s very much about the constitutional future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe big decision yesterday in Dublin was a constitutional issue, that is now to the fore.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who, particularly people from a unionist background who traditionally in the past wouldn\u2019t have had this conversation about where they see themselves in the future are now having that conversation and it\u2019s a very healthy and live debate.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the British Government accepted the principle of consent, meaning the people of Northern Ireland could decide their own future on the issue.<\/p>\n
It recognized the legitimacy of the aspiration for a united Ireland as well as the wish of a majority to remain part of the UK.<\/p>\n
The Government has said the time is not right to call a poll on uniting Ireland.<\/p>\n
Nationalists have claimed the Brexit result, with its threat of a hard Irish border \u2013 which Northern Ireland voted against, had reinvigorated the debate.<\/p>\n
Mrs O\u2019Neill said the test had been met for a unity poll.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the fact that if you look at a number of things, the northern state was built on a unionist majority, that unionist majority is now gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that represented change and the criteria had been met for a unity referendum.<\/p>\n