Sinn Fein's McLaughlin welcomes Trimble's proposal

Sinn Fein’s Mitchell McLaughlin has welcomed David Trimble’s call for a poll on a united Ireland to be held alongside the assembly elections.

McLaughlin hopes, however, that Mr Trimble's suggestion is not superficial and that the re-elected Ulster Unionist leader is now ready to sit around the table for talks about a united Ireland.

It is well known that Sinn Fein has been pressing for a border referendum for some time.

Mr McLaughlin finished his response to the poll proposal by insisting that Sinn Fein has been calling for serious debate about a united Ireland for quite a while.