Taoiseach Martin to set up commission on Stormont’s role in a united Ireland

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced that a new commission will examine whether a united Ireland should retain the Stormont Assembly.

The commission, to be organised by the Department of the Taoiseach, will consider three constitutional options: maintaining the status quo, creating a unitary state, or forming a united Ireland with a devolved assembly for the six counties of the north.

Martin will bring a memo to Cabinet outlining the remit, which he describes as exploring the island’s “constitutional futures”. Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy said on The Claire Byrne Show that this is Martin’s “most significant intervention in the debate about Irish unity” since he became Taoiseach six years ago.

Leahy noted that the proposal to keep Stormont represents an “interesting departure” from the preference of many nationalists for a unitary state, suggesting it may reflect Martin’s view of a likely temporary arrangement. He added that retaining a devolved Stormont could ease integration challenges in education, health, crime, security and defence, and might make a united Ireland more acceptable to some unionists.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, a border poll must be called if a majority in the six counties supports unification. A recent LucidPoll found 47% favour remaining in the Union, 35% support a united Ireland and 18% are undecided.

Source: Newstalk. Photo: Peter Billington / Pexels.