- Opinion
- 02 Apr 18
Addressing an Easter commemoration in Belfast's Milltown cemetery, Michelle O'Neill has called for a referendum on unity to be held within the next five years.
The Deputy Sinn Féin leader told the crowd: "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."
Sinn Féin Vice President @moneillsf will address today’s commemoration pic.twitter.com/8cncmYHfaa
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) April 1, 2018
She also criticised the DUP during her wide-ranging speech.
On the subject of the Good Friday Agreement, 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."
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Poll: Would you like a vote on Irish unity within five years? (via @thejournal_ie) https://t.co/HkaLQMApFN
— Caoimhe Archibald SF (@CArchibald_SF) April 1, 2018