Dodds accuses SF of united Ireland 'fantasy'

Sinn Féin was accused today of selling a fantasy after it vowed to secure a referendum on a united Ireland in its manifesto for the Republic of Ireland’s General Election.

Nigel Dodds, a Democratic Unionist minister in the new Stormont government, claimed Gerry Adams’ party was trying to cover up the fact that Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom was more secure.

The Stormont Economy Minister observed: “The fantasy politics of a united Ireland is still being pursued by Sinn Féin.

“Like everyone else, they know that it is not going to happen but they continue to perpetrate a fraud on their own supporters and electorate to cover for the plain fact that the Union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom is strong and will be even stronger as a result of the work of the Democratic Unionist Party and the progress that we have achieved in recent years.

“Sinn Féin are paying lip service to the fantasy of a united Ireland but their actions to the contrary, which have been forced upon them by the resolute stand of the DUP, demonstrate that they cannot achieve what they wish for.

“The people of Northern Ireland are more determined than ever that the Union will be maintained and it is evident that they are more confident in that belief than ever before.”

Sinn Féin is seeking to significantly increase its number of seats in the Dáil in next week’s election.

Party leader Gerry Adams has been on the campaign trail throughout the Republic, with the party hoping to pick up gains in several Dublin constituencies, in the two Donegal constituencies as well as in Meath, Wexford and Waterford.

The West Belfast MP and other senior party figures including Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have insisted Sinn Féin’s aim is to be in government on both sides of the border.

And if the post election arithmetic is tight with Fianna Fáil trying to hold off a rainbow coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Greens, Sinn Féin could find itself determining who will form the next government.

Mr Dodds insisted his party had no difficulty with the new Stormont administration joining forces with the Irish Government on projects which were mutually beneficial.

But the North Belfast MP insisted Sinn Féin’s General Election manifesto did not hold up under close scrutiny.

“There will be no united Ireland,” he said.

“There will be no joint sovereignty and the strengthening of the Union will be advanced in the context of a Northern Ireland in which every person has a full entitlement to their democratic and human rights and in which all sections of the community are represented in government comprised of parties committed to democracy and peace.”