Taoiseach and Tánaiste to meet to discuss Government approach to Irish unity

The Irish premier and deputy premier will meet in the coming weeks to discuss a Government approach to Irish unity, Micheál Martin has said.It comes after Fine Gael launched its “blueprint” for Irish unity at the party’s Ard Fheis over the weekend.The blueprint includes cost projections for a united Ireland as well as a proposal for a new junior minister for North-South relations in a dedicated unit within the Department of An Taoiseach and the establishment of a dedicated sovereign wealth fund to deal with the potential costs of transition.The document also includes modelling of the economic “cost and opportunities” associated with unification, with Tánaiste Simon Harris telling the Ard Fheis that his party wants to have an “honest and open conversation” on the issue.Fine Gael leader Simon Harris launched the party’s ‘blueprint’ for Irish unity at its Ard Fheis over the weekend (Cillian Sherlock/PA)PA WireLast week, Taoiseach Mr Martin proposed that a chairperson be appointed to oversee research into potential future scenarios including Irish unification within five years of a referendum.Mr Martin shared a briefing document with his Fianna Fáil parliamentary party which included a proposal for the establishment of the Futures Study Initiative, which would gather informed cross-community voices to explore three potential future core scenarios for the island, including a North/South reunification.Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have accused other parties of having an over-simplistic view of Irish unity.Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Irish parliament on Tuesday, Mr Martin said he has agreed to meet Tánaiste Mr Harris in the coming weeks to discuss a Government strategy around the issue.“The Tánaiste and I have agreed that we will engage in the coming weeks in respect of a Government approach to a range of issues,” he said.Tánaiste Simon Harris (left) and Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in May (Brian Lawless/PA)PA Archive“As I have said at the outset, the shared island initiative is probably the most consequential since the Good Friday Agreement.“Never before has the Irish Republic invested as much in physical and human connectivity on the island, in terms of roads and bridges and rail, but also in terms of the arts, culture and facilitating investment with groups based on gender-based violence, for example, and biodiversity and climate groups on the island.”He added that there are similarities between his party’s evidence-based plan to inform debate around Irish unity and Fine Gael’s blueprint.Read More“We also believe in reform that the institutions need to have in respect of the Strand One and the Good Friday Agreement,” he said.“There are similarities in terms of how we would approach questions of a constitutional framework for the future and that needs an independent, evidence-based rigorous approach, not the kind of victorious or triumphalist approach that some are suggesting.“It’s a deep and complex question, not a simple one at all.”