Lord Robert Armstrong: Number of unionists in north dwindling

One of the architects of the Anglo-Irish agreement says that if trends continue, we could see a united Ireland.

Speaking at an event to mark 30 years since the signing of the agreement, Lord Robert Armstrong said the number of unionists in the north is dwindling.

Armstrong was secretary to the British Cabinet under Margaret Thatcher when the agreement was negotiated.

A recent cross border opinion poll said we are not likely to see unification soon, but Lord Armstrong says it could happen in the coming decades.

"There may be demographic considerations I suppose, during my time on this the balance between the unionists and the nationalists in Northern Ireland has changed, so that unionists have diminished although they're still a majority and the nationalists have increased.

"If those lines were to cross and the nationalists became the majority in Northern Ireland there might be a vote with the majority in favour of unification."