An outgoing Fianna Fáil Senator does not believe a new national anthem would be needed in the event of a united Ireland.

Senator Mark Daly says his research has found that the majority of the Irish public do not want a change.

It comes in the context of talks of a united Ireland referendum - with some suggesting the country would need to change its anthem, flag and symbols.

Senator Daly re-introduced a National Anthem Bill back in 2019, which sought copyright protection of Amhrán na bhFiann.

It sought to give official recognition to the anthem and protect it from use for advertising purposes.

The measure was first introduced in 2016 but lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil and Seanad.

One of the findings from a report was a need to formally adopt the anthem in the Irish language, as this has never been done by the State.

Last year marked the 110th anniversary of the anthem being written by Peadar Kearney.

But Mr Daly told Newstalk Breakfast there is big public support for retaining Amhrán na bhFiann.

"One of the things I've learnt - and we did the public consultation and I was in charge of the coordination of that in 2017/2018 - and there is about 84% for the national anthem as it is.

"[This is] widespread across all political parties and across the general public - a great love for the national anthem.

"And it is one of the key symbols of our State like the flag - which is a symbol of peace between communities - the harp, which is a representation of our cultural heritage, and the national anthem of course, which is a symbol of our long struggle.

"In another report which I compiled on unionist fears and concerns of a united Ireland... is a loss of identity and taking symbols away from them."

"You create a better Ireland by accommodating identity, rather than taking away identity".

Irish Examiner columnist Victoria White says she believes in the context of a united Ireland, things would have to change.

"84% of people in the Republic love the national anthem - I don't imagine that if you polled the unionist community in Northern Ireland they'd be desperately keen on the national anthem".

"I believe that we would have to have a new flag, I believe we'd have to have a new anthem [and] new symbols.

"I think we could probably accommodate the harp - we would have to have new symbols for a new Ireland.

"I know that the Tricolour, to which I owe my allegiance, is meant to exemplify peace between communities - but it has not done so".