The first minister of Northern Ireland on Monday said US President Donald Trump’s remarks on “Irish unification” reflect that the idea is on the table.
“I think it reflects the fact that there is a growing conversation around constitutional change at home in Ireland,” Michelle O’Neill said in an interview with Sky News.
Referring to Trump’s weekend remarks, she said this has been reflected in what they have heard in the commentary over the weekend.
On Sunday, the US president said that integrating Ireland and Northern Ireland represents “one of the naturals of all time,” suggesting historical partitions should be resolved.
This comment came a day after his statement on the issue on Saturday while he was in Ireland, saying he would “love” to see a united Ireland.
O’Neill said that the upcoming meeting of Sinn Fein, Plaid Cymru, and SNP reflects that there’s a “whole change in dynamic,” and the “whole political landscape [was] very much changing.”
Leaders of the nationalist parties in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales are set to meet in Cardiff later Monday.
Earlier, Prime Minister Andy Burnham ruled out calling a referendum on Irish unification, describing it as “off the table.”
