Taoiseach accuses Sinn Féin of 'harking back to the 1970s' in United Ireland rhetoric

Mr Martin made the comments when speaking on RTÉ Radio's Today with David McCullagh. 

The Taoiseach has accused Sinn Féin of "harking back to the 1970s" in its rhetoric on a United Ireland. Mr Martin made the comments on radio today. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The Taoiseach has accused Sinn Féin of "harking back to the 1970s" in its rhetoric on a United Ireland.

Conversation on the issue of a United Ireland was sparked over the weekend after US President Donald Trump said that reunification would be "natural" on his visit to Ireland.

However, speaking on RTÉ Radio's Today with David McCullagh, Mr Martin said that there is much work to be done and hit out at Sinn Féin's approach to the issue.

"His (Mr Trump's) view and recollection is of a very vicious and terrible conflict in Northern Ireland, and talked about the release of people who committed terrible crimes and so on.

"I told him I think on the more fundamental point, if we could get legacy over the line this autumn, that would be the most significant breakthrough for the victims and families of victims who were murdered during The Troubles, and it would mean there would be an obligation on everybody to cooperate with the new commission and to attempt to give closure to all families who suffered horrendously from that period."

Mr Martin said that Mr Trump is "not conventional" in holding back his beliefs and had outlined his beliefs on a United Ireland in the past. 

However, he said that "rhetoric" around the issue was unhelpful.

"I got involved in politics because of Northern Ireland, because I grew up at a time when the violence was rife, particularly in the 1970s, the early violence, the British government at the time of the state, and so on, internment, Bloody Sunday, all of that.

"I never actually thought we'd get peace. We became immune to it. Our generation did bombings daily and so on. 

"So I do have a different perspective in the sense of I'm not into the simplistic rhetoric. I'm not into timelines. 

"I'm not into sort of saying we'll do it all next week and it'll be simple. 

"And I worry at sometimes I think some of the rhetoric I'm listening to more recently, even listening to Sinn Féin at times is harking back to the 1970s, and I worry about that.

"They're digging trenches, is how I see it, because I don't sense that generosity of spirit. 

"I don't sense it on legacy. I've never sensed it from Sinn Féin on legacy. 

"They've been poor at giving closure to families who their predecessors would have murdered."

On the issue of a United Ireland, Mr Martin said that Ireland would work with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

"I genuinely believe we need to focus on the issue of legacy as part of the path forward. 

"This is something I will discuss with the British PM when we meet."

He added that he would discuss the issue of a veto for Northern parties when he meets Mr Burnham later this week.