Taoiseach rules out 'divisive' border poll in 'next few years'

Mr Varadkar's comments were jeered by a section of the crowd which had otherwise broadly welcomed him.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ruled out a border poll “in the next few years” because doing so in the aftermath of the Brexit crisis could lead to a "sectarian" campaign which could repeat the mistakes of partition a century ago.

Mr Varadkar downplayed the possibility of a cross-border vote tonight, despite growing political and northern demands for the move due to the deepening Brexit stand-off.