Oisín
12-19-2008, 12:54 PM
United Ireland referendum poll ‘by 2016’
A referendum on a united Ireland could be held before 2016, Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has claimed.
The fading international spotlight on Northern Ireland and the current economic climate could create the right environment to go to a vote, the Sinn Fein MLA told supporters last night.
At a public briefing, An Ireland of Equals — the Peace Process and Beyond, held in the House of Commons, Mr Murphy added that reunification was not a spectator sport.
“We were accused of setting 2016 as the date for the hundred-year anniversary. It may take longer,” he said.
“I actually think it could happen sooner than that in reality if we keep the momentum going when the economic realities and the political realities hit.
“We have received an awful lot of attention over the last 10 years with American presidents and other nations dropping in but that will start to wane.
“Then we will start to realise we are a small island, we have quite a lot going for us.
[Link] (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/united-ireland-referendum-poll-lsquoby-2016rsquo-14101007.html)
A referendum on a united Ireland could be held before 2016, Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has claimed.
The fading international spotlight on Northern Ireland and the current economic climate could create the right environment to go to a vote, the Sinn Fein MLA told supporters last night.
At a public briefing, An Ireland of Equals — the Peace Process and Beyond, held in the House of Commons, Mr Murphy added that reunification was not a spectator sport.
“We were accused of setting 2016 as the date for the hundred-year anniversary. It may take longer,” he said.
“I actually think it could happen sooner than that in reality if we keep the momentum going when the economic realities and the political realities hit.
“We have received an awful lot of attention over the last 10 years with American presidents and other nations dropping in but that will start to wane.
“Then we will start to realise we are a small island, we have quite a lot going for us.
[Link] (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/united-ireland-referendum-poll-lsquoby-2016rsquo-14101007.html)