The Taoiseach has said he would like to see a united Ireland in his lifetime.
Speaking to Dermot and Dave on Today FM this morning, Leo Varadkar said it could only happen with the agreement of the majority of people in Northern Ireland.
The Government has previously warned that now is not the time to be preparing for a border poll.
But Mr Varadkar said that it is something he would like to see in the right circumstances.
“I would, but only in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement – so that is only with the consent of the majority of people in Northern Ireland,” he said.
“That is really important. Nobody should be forced into anything they don’t want.”
And if there were a referendum tomorrow, how would you vote? pic.twitter.com/muhAdZ5LUh
— Lord Ashcroft (@LordAshcroft) September 11, 2019
A recent poll carried out in Northern Ireland found that 46% people would vote for a united Ireland while 45% would vote for the North to remain in the UK.
When those who said they didn’t know or would not vote were excluded, it broke down as 51% for unification with 49% against.
Some 65% of people said they felt Brexit had made Irish unity more likely in the foreseeable future.
Earlier this week PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne warned that any deal that threatened the union between the North and Britain could lead to civil unrest among loyalists.
