Legislation will allow for planning on Irish unity - SF

Sinn Féin has said the objective of its legislation on Irish reunification is to allow the Government to prepare for a united Ireland.

The party has tabled legislation which, if accepted, would compel the Taoiseach to produce a Green Paper examining the implications of constitutional change within 18 months.

It would also trigger the establishment of a Citizens' Assembly to examine the implications of Irish unity.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the objective of the legislation is for the Dáil to come together and recognise that almost 30 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, preparation is needed to ensure that when the referendums are called, there is a fully informed, calm debate.

"That we have a fully informed, respectful, calm, orderly debate in which every citizen, every sector of Irish society - north and south and people of all political persuasions - feel that they have been given the space, the time to be informed, to be engaged to formulate their opinions, to express those to change their opinions if that is the case."

She said preparation is needed to ensure we can "grasp the substantial opportunities that reunification can present" and ensure that "we are equipped to have an orderly, democratic, respectful and inclusive and entirely peaceful process".

Asked about the cost of Irish unity, Ms McDonald said the subvention, or how much it costs to run Northern Ireland, is often raised.

However, she said that often "huge, inflated figures are quoted" like €10-€14 billion per annum, but she said this includes things like pensions, defence spending, and the North's current share of the British national debt.

Ms McDonald said many experts and academic institutions have done work that refutes the analysis that the subvention is "so enormous that we can’t cope with it - we can".

She said the economic opportunity, the investment opportunity, the opportunity for coherent infrastructural planning and delivery is "enormous".

"It is a win, win, win scenario for the entire island."

Ms McDonald welcomed Fine Gael’s proposed blueprint for a unified Island.

Last month, Fine Gael said it will develop a new blueprint for a unified island which it will publish at the party's Ard Fheis in November.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said the publication would define what a unified Ireland could mean in practical terms, politically, economically, and societally.

It will examine fiscal implications, public services and the economic opportunities that could arise from unity.