He wants to focus on building relationships
The new Taoiseach has ruled out a border poll as “far too divisive at this stage”
Micheal Martin said he instead wants to focus on building relationships to share the island of Ireland “in peace and harmony”.
Sinn Fein has been calling for a border poll amid the political turbulence caused by Brexit and uncertainty over future arrangements. Mr Martin’s new coalition government includes an all-island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach “to develop fresh thinking around that”.
“I want to inject greater momentum into the north-south dimension of the Good Friday Agreement, in terms of practical, pragmatic economic projects and activity that we can get under way,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.
“I think, to me, a border poll is far too divisive at this stage, it doesn’t deal with the more fundamental issue of how we continue to live and work together as we all live on this island, particularly in a post-Brexit scenario.”
The Taoiseach was due to visit Northern Ireland for the first time as Irish premier. First Minister Arlene Foster told the Sunday Politics programme that she and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill will meet Mr Martin jointly.
The pair have not appeared together since the row over Ms O’Neill’s attendance among huge crowds at the funeral of veteran republican Bobby Storey in west Belfast on June 30.
Mrs Foster said: “We will welcome him to Northern Ireland to have discussions, respecting jurisdictions, making sure that we look forward to the future in a way that doesn’t do any damage to the relationships which have come under pressure over the last couple of years.”
She reiterated her belief that the message on social distancing has been damaged by Ms O’Neill’s actions, but added: “It is now up to us all to try and rebuild that credibility … it’s important we don’t get distracted by looking at who is standing beside who but actually do the job of work of government, providing leadership.”
Mrs Foster said she will not “prejudge” the Taoiseach but will wait to see his actions.
Mr Martin said he understood the “frustration of people who witnessed the large turnout at that funeral, but, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, my overall perspective on this is to try to ensure that this doesn’t damage or undermine the institutions in the north”.
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