Leo Varadkar: ‘We should aim for as big a yes vote as possible, both south and north of the border’

Leo Varadkar has urged all parties contesting the Republic’s forthcoming general election to make unification “not just an aspiration but an objective”.

The former taoiseach was speaking at a New Ireland Commission schools engagement event in Derry on Thursday.

The TD, who is not seeking re-election, said he would like to see all parties dedicate a section of their election manifestos to the issue. Mr Varadkar said this would include “strengthening the Shared Island unit”.

“It also means increasing the Shared Island Fund and it means things like a New Ireland Commission, involving anyone who is willing to take part in it from politics and civil society,” he added.

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“The principle is simply there in the Good Friday Agreement that a simple majority is enough, and I don’t think, if there was a simple majority that you could say that that’s not good enough.

“But of course it wouldn’t be ideal and the kind of thing we should aim for is as big a yes vote as possible, both south and north of the border.

“So, 50 plus one is enough but it not what we want and that’s why I think we need, as much as possible, to co-design what that New Ireland looks like, people north and south and then people from the British unionist community as well,” said Mr Varadkar.

The Dublin West TD said under the Good Friday Agreement principle, people can be “British, Irish, both and should be accepted as such” should be “taken forward into a United Ireland”.

He suggested the Dail could sit at Stormont in Belfast for parts of the year in the event of unification.

He also proposed that the unified state could have a president and vice-president, one of whom would be from the unionist/British tradition.

“One thing that could be considered is the use of Stormont for parliamentary sessions at certain times in the year like South Africa does with Cape Town and Pretoria, the same could be done for the higher courts,” he added.

“We could reform the presidency to create a vice-presidency running on a ticket with at least one being a British citizen.”

Mr Varadkar also posited reform of Seanad Éireann to give “guaranteed representation to the minority for a period or permanently”.

“In addition, we should consider how a 32 county Ireland with massive seas and airspace can defend itself from 21st century threats, which might mean a defence agreement with Great Britain and a closer relationship with NATO,” he said.

SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said he was going to be “relentlessly focussed” on working to achieve a New Ireland, when he stepped down as leader next month.

“I want to be building the case for Irish unity, building the case for change, which would be a reconciled New Ireland that lifts people out of poverty and gives people opportunity.

“For me, that is the most exciting thing you could be doing in politics. That is the next decade of opportunity that we have.”

Mr Eastwood’s designated successor, Belfast South and Mid Down MP, Claire Hanna who also attended the event described the Commission as “bound by principles around reconciliation, and embedding diversity, and looking to the future and being both hopeful and honest with people”.

Opening the New Ireland Commission schools engagement event, Belfast City councillor Paul Doherty said it was “fantastic to see so many young people gathered to discuss the future of this island, which each and everyone of us calls home”.

“This work has been ongoing for a number of years now. It began with quiet conversations, working hard to bring people from all traditions and backgrounds together.”