Northern Ireland

Fianna Fáil TD Jim O'Callaghan insists unionist identity would be 'retained and recognised' in a united Ireland

Fianna Fáil TD Jim O'Callaghan has discussed his ideas for a united Ireland on BBC's Sunday Politics Northern Ireland show.
Fianna Fáil TD Jim O'Callaghan has discussed his ideas for a united Ireland on BBC's Sunday Politics Northern Ireland show. Fianna Fáil TD Jim O'Callaghan has discussed his ideas for a united Ireland on BBC's Sunday Politics Northern Ireland show.

A united Ireland would not involve a "takeover" of the north by the Republic, but would instead be a chance for unionists to create a "new country", a Fianna Fáil TD has insisted.

Dublin Bay South TD Jim O'Callaghan was speaking yesterday on the BBC's Sunday Politics programme following his recent united Ireland proposals to Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge last week.

These included the potential to have the Dáil or Senate sitting at Stormont, and the retention of the PSNI in a "regional system" for policing across the island.

Speaking yesterday Mr O'Callaghan, who has been tipped as the next leader of Fianna Fáil, insisted that questions must be asked ahead of any border poll about what the future of Ireland would be in the event of reunification, warning it would be "chaotic" if proponents did not answer "reasonable questions" ahead of a poll.

He also said the British identity of unionists would be "respected, retained and recognised" in a new unified state. He said ideas to ensure this include "mandated places" for those of a unionist tradition in a new government.

"Sometimes when unionists hear about a united Ireland, they view it as some attempt by a homogeneous group of nationalists in Northern Ireland to force them into a homogeneous group throughout the whole island," he said.

The TD, who has been tipped as a possible next leader of Fianna Fáil, added: "My vision of a united Ireland doesn't involve some form of takeover. It has everyone on the island coming together and trying to resolve and initiate a new country."

Mr O'Callaghan told presenter Mark Carruthers that "politics has changed throughout the island" and that "the political faultlines that exist are completely different to what they were 100 years ago."