REPUBLICANS opposed to Sinn Féin have poured cold water on calls by the party for a border poll after Britain voted to leave the European Union.
Senior Sinn Féin figures made the call in the wake of the shock referendum result last Friday.
The call for a future border poll was repeated over the weekend by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Other republicans have said a referendum on the border, which would involve voters in the north, should not be held.
Such a poll can only be triggered at the discretion of a Secretary of State if it is deemed that there is enough support for Irish unity.
Within hours of the Sinn Féin call Secretary of State Theresa Villiers rejected the call.
When asked about the prospect of a similar border poll in the Republic, Taoiseach Enda Kenny: "We have more serious issues to deal with in the immediate term and that is where our focus is."
Sean Bresnahan, from the 1916 Societies, last night rejected calls for a border poll.
Formed in 2009, the societies describe themselves as an “Irish separatist movement” and claim that a “democratic transition to Irish unity remains possible”.
They remain opposed to Sinn Féin's political strategy.
In recent months the 1916 Societies has been involved in promoting its One Ireland One Vote campaign across Ireland.
"We note immediate moves - already rejected by Britain - on the part of the leadership of ‘New Sinn Fein’ towards a so-called 'border poll',” said Mr Bresnahan.
“Such a poll is in reality a device to withhold the national rights of the Irish people and to deny Irish sovereignty.
“Sinn Fein know only too well that an independent republic can never be achieved through such a poll, that even were it to be held and won it sets in train 'Good Friday mark two' and not the Irish republic.”
He also criticised Sinn Féin suggestions that a referendum on the border should be held.
“We submit that they seek to muddy the demand for an all-Ireland referendum and deliberately sow confusion at this critical time - all to avoid it being exposed that the British triple lock they agreed to be bound by represents a permanent barrier to Irish national sovereignty,” he said.
Speaking yesterday Mr Adams said that the majority of people in the north voted to stay in the EU.
“English votes threaten to drag it out of the EU,” he said.
“It is imperative that this democratic deficit is challenged.
“Sinn Féin believes that that can best be achieved by the maximum cooperation between the executive and the government in Dublin upholding the vote of the electorate in the north. In the time ahead, this should include a referendum on the border.”
Meanwhile Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton welcomed the Brexit result.
“Firstly, it strikes a blow against the modern imperialism of the undemocratic EU superstate and will encourage further resistance across Europe,” he said.
“Secondly, it exposes the old imperialism and lack of democracy that lies at the heart of the so-called United Kingdom.
“It will hopefully unleash forces that will hasten its end. We would view the likelihood of a new referendum on Scottish Independence as a progressive step.”
