Taoiseach says he is a 'neighbour not an invader' and predicts United Ireland vote would not pass in coming years

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has moved to calm unionist fears over the possibility of a united Ireland in the near future, saying he sees himself as a "neighbour not as an invader" and predicting a united Ireland vote would be lost if it occurs in the coming years.

Speaking during an historic first visit of a sitting taoiseach to the headquarters of the Orange Order in East Belfast, Mr Varadkar said "my mother brought me up to very good manners" and that he wants a friendly relationship between the north and south.