Convening citizens' assembly on border poll 'not even on Government's radar'

Simon Coveney dismisses suggestion that election results in the North have brought a border poll closer

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald yesterday called on the Taoiseach to convene a citizens' assembly to examine a vote on a united Ireland in the wake of the assembly elections in the North. Picture: PA

Convening a citizens’ assembly on a border poll is “not even on the radar” of the Government, despite the historic outcome of the Northern Ireland elections.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has shot down any claims that the election results have brought a border poll closer, arguing “the balance between the nationalist vote and the unionist vote hasn’t changed hugely”.