Brexit: Prospect of U锘縩ited Ireland 'now not as remote'
Rev Paisley made part of his contribution in Irish
At a glance
Son of the DUP founder says the prospect of a united Ireland is not as remote as it once was
Rev Kyle Paisley cited Brexit uncertainty and the trade border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Rev Paisley spoke Irish at the Seanad (the upper house of Irish parliament)
H锘縠 said it would be a "herculean task" to win moderate unionists over to a united Ireland
- Published
The son of the DUP founder, Ian Paisley, has said the prospect of a united Ireland is not as remote as it once was.
The Rev Kyle Paisley said this was due to the Brexit uncertainty and the trade border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
He was speaking at the Seanad (the upper house of Irish parliament) on Friday.
The twin brother of DUP MP Ian Paisley said that it would be a "herculean task" to win moderate unionists over to a united Ireland.
Rev Paisley, who made part of his contribution in Irish, said: 鈥淢y heart is fixed and can鈥檛 be won鈥 but he admitted that a 鈥渄isastrous鈥 Brexit had changed some people鈥檚 attitudes.
He said there were serious questions about a united Ireland including whether it could financially match the UK block fund and whether it would be an 鈥渋rreversible severance鈥.
F锘縠ar of exploitation
In a question and answer session, Rev Paisley said that because of the 鈥渓ong shadow鈥 cast by the Northern Ireland Troubles there was still a fear among many unionists that there are people who would seek to exploit them in a united Ireland.
He said that while it may be possible to respect and acknowledge the culture and history of unionists in a united Ireland he was of the view that 鈥測ou can鈥檛 really be a unionist without the union".
The former Alliance leader and Fine Gael MEP, John Cushnahan, told the committee that he questioned 鈥渢he wisdom鈥 of those using the recent Northern Ireland census to seek a 鈥減remature鈥 border poll.
He said future constitutional change 鈥渕ust be able to win the consent of the nationalist majority and the unionist minority鈥 rather than a 50% plus one margin.
Mr Cushnahan suggested that it might be better to allow academics examine the issues surrounding change rather than a citizens鈥 assembly.
The Seanad committee on the Voices of all Communities on the Constitutional Future on the Island of Ireland earlier heard from young people north and south of the border about their thoughts on the island鈥檚 future.
DUP MP Sammy Wilson criticised unionists thinking of attending the Ireland鈥檚 Future event in Dublin
Meanwhile, DUP MP Sammy Wilson told the Belfast-based Newsletter that he regarded any unionist thinking of attending the Ireland鈥檚 Future event in Dublin on Saturday as 鈥減atsies鈥 and 鈥渦seful idiots鈥 in the hands of united Irelanders.
Thousands of people are due to attend the conference which will discuss planning for a united Ireland.
The event, to be held at the 3Arena, will hear from a range of politicians, members of civic society, and business representatives.
Organisers say the conference is the "most significant and important" event to discuss a united Ireland.
Ireland鈥檚 Future was formed to "advocate for, and promote, debate and discussion about Ireland鈥檚 Future".
It has held a number of events since it was formed in 2019, but this weekend鈥檚 will be its biggest to date.
The leaders of Sinn F茅in and the SDLP will be joined by senior figures from all of the main political parties in the Republic of Ireland.
T谩naiste Leo Varadkar, who is due to become taoiseach in December, will give a keynote address.
Organisers say they expect several thousand people to attend the event.