The Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has told the party's Ard Fheis that there must be a referendum on Irish unity in the next five years.
Ms McDonald told members that it would be a red line for the party in considering entering government after the next election.
She said there needs to be a referendum on Irish unity in the next five years with the party passing a motion that movement towards it would be a condition of entering government.
She said the "days of partition are numbered" and that "Brexit has changed everything".
Ms McDonald said: "The Irish government and all who say that now is not the time to speak of unity are wrong.
"A referendum on unity will happen, as set-out in the Good Friday Agreement.
"It is not a question of if, but a question of when.
The government must convene an All-Ireland Forum "in the next five years", she told delegates.
Sinn Féin Ard Fheis 2019 Presidential Address https://t.co/8wDt6R2GX7
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) November 16, 2019
In a pre-general election speech in Derry last night , Ms McDonald made a raft of promises.
She pledged to undertake the largest public house building programme in the history of the state, and to cut rents by an average of €1,500 a year through tax reliefs.
Ms McDonald said an NHS for Ireland needs to be established with a view to being an all-island operation if a border poll passes
She committed to making childcare a public service, and much cheaper, while also scrapping third level fees.
The Sinn Féin leader said a living wage would be introduced with them in government and that the retirement age would be brought back down to 65.
She also spoke about a green new deal promising more details in the next few weeks.
Ms McDonald was critical of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, saying they were "bad for your health" and have "have short-changed you" when it comes to quality of life.
However, she said her party will talk and listen after the next election with a view to entering government.
Michelle O’Neill re-elected
Earlier in the evening, Michelle O’Neill was re-elected as vice-president of the party.
She said she was "really honoured" for the endorsement of Sinn Féin members, and looks forward to continuing the party's "important work" in her role.
Ms O'Neill said: “Working alongside Mary Lou McDonald and our senior team I want to maximise the positive growth and development of the party across Ireland.
“It’s our ambition to drive a progressive political agenda for change across Ireland.
“We are committed to transforming our country and uniting Ireland," she concluded.
Additional reporting by Seán Defoe
