Michelle O’Neill, vice president of Sinn Fein, released a statement alluding to the possibility of a referendum to unite Ireland. O’Neill called up the government of Dublin to prepare the logistics for the likelihood of a successful referendum. Calls for a referendum come in light of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, driven by a growing desire to remain in the bloc and regain full sovereignty. 

Michelle O’Neill said “We have to have the healthy conversation around what the all-island health service will look like, what education look like, what the economy look like.” She followed up the statement by defending Sinn Fein’s ability to work within the current structures of Northern Ireland while also campaigning for Irish unity. O’Neill was quoted stating that she does not “…see any contradiction in working towards that constitutional change and trying to convince people of something better while also being in the Executive and working with others to deliver on the day to day public services the public want to be focused on.”

Political leaders within Sinn Fein have a history of issuing press releases in favor of a referendum to restore Irish unity. In March of 2021, Mary Lou McDonald, the President of Sinn Fein, was quoted stating that: “A referendum is part of the Good Friday Agreement. The primacy of politics, democracy, and peace cannot be denied or delayed.”

Sinn Fein’s call for Irish unity is in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement. Signed in 1998, the Agreement “acknowledged the legitimacy of the desire for a united Ireland, while declaring that it could be achieved only with the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland.” The act of calling for a referendum does work within the confines of previously established agreements and is therefore not inherently destructive. However, it is fair to note that a successful referendum would result in large scale institutional change and potential civil unrest.

Sinn Fein, the nationalist republican party of Northern Ireland, is historically associated with the IRA. While Sinn Fein and the IRA are not synonymous and use drastically different measures to achieve their goals, they are considered “symbiotic” organizations. As previously stated, the issue of Brexit has caused instability in Northern Ireland. In April of 2021, multiple riots broke out between unionists and secessionists. Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Fein did denounce the riots and associated violence.

Considering the history of violence and unrest in Northern Ireland that springs from the unification debate, all parties involved must tread carefully. Historic religious conflict between Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics, as well as steep political divisions, must be respected when pursuing any action that disrupts the status quo.