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Home Page > News > ‘United Ireland vote by 2016’ says Martin McGuinness

‘United Ireland vote by 2016’ says Martin McGuinness

Decision of when vote would occur in the hands of the British secretary of state

KERRY O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Intern

Published Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 7:45 AM

Updated Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 10:45 AM

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Martin McGuinness

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Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister in Northern Ireland and member of Sinn Fein, recently said that he expects a referendum vote as to whether or not Northern Ireland will remain a part of the United Kingdom as early as 2016.

In an interview with The Irish Examiner, McGuinness said that he is hopeful that a referendum could be held at the next term of the Belfast Assembly in 2016.

"It just seems to me to be a sensible timing,” McGuinness told The Irish Examiner. “It would be on the question of whether or not the people of the Six Counties wish to retain the link with what is described as the United Kingdom, or be part of a united Ireland. It could take place anytime between 2016 or 2020-21.”

"I think, in all probability,” added McGuinness, “the people who have got the power to put that in place won’t even contemplate it this side of the next Assembly elections, which conceivably could be 2015 or 2016."

As per the Good Friday Agreement, the final decision as to when a referendum will be held is in the hands of the British secretary of state.
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Recently, the Nationalist government in Edinburgh has roused up some controversy with their own considerations to leave the United Kingdom as well, saying that it will be put to a vote as soon as 2014.

In regards to what he believes citizens are looking for by way of reunification, McGuinness said, “People will make a decision on the potential that the reunification of Ireland can bring for them in terms of political stability and in terms of having economic levers in their own hands.”

He also added that he does not believe that the Republic of Ireland’s recent economic disasters will greatly influence the potential referendum vote.

While a Catholic majority is expected within the next generation in the Six Counties, McGuinness “said it was ‘too sectarian’ to expect people to vote on strictly religious lines.”

In other moments in his interview with The Irish Examiner, McGuinness appears to have relaxed his stance on Queen Elizabeth II. He noted that he has been invited to garden parties at Buckingham Palace, and that he felt the Queen’s mention of what "we would wish had been done differently, or not at all" at her speech at Dublin Castle in May was a direct reference to the Bloody Sunday massacre forty years ago.

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33 Comments

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Dushlain | Mar 23, 2013, 09:35 PM EDT

There is still not much appetite for a United Ireland. Until there is, people like warrenpoint will have to put up with the status quo.

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DanOLoingsigh | Feb 03, 2012, 02:38 AM EST

Not sure there was much appetite on either side to negotiate in the 20s or 30s… focussing on symbols like the (rarely spoken) first language demonstrates that some posters want a take-over, not true inclusive unity…incidentally, the USA changes its flag every time a new part is added, to recognize and welcome new citizens…

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ancavker | Feb 02, 2012, 10:55 AM EST

Dan: You bring up some valid points, but one could argue that the Unionists will be negotiating from a relatively weak position (if Scotland leaves the U.K.), and would have been in a far stronger position 80 odd years ago. As far as a portion of the UK national debt, well lets just let the English absorb that, as pay back for the past.

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barneyjo | Feb 01, 2012, 09:30 PM EST

@warrenpoint100 - "I am part of the British presence in Ireland, and I am NOT going anywhere!!" (David Ervine) He spoke for his people when he said this; his Unionist community, which has as much of a stake in this place as you have."Ireland is Irish"?? well clearly not in the hearts and minds of the community that Ervine spoke for. So,how to pursuade that community to change its flag and loyalties, and traditions just to appease your community and viewpoint? "The twisted wreckage down on main street will bring us all together in the end" (Paul Brady)

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warrenpoint00 | Feb 01, 2012, 09:06 PM EST

The referendum refered to is all about the re.. important here the REunification of Ireland.Just for the benefit of those Irish come lately,s waltzing in to our country, Ireland was and still is for many IRISH NATIONALS a very much united country, that was until special interest groups like cumann na gael/ fine gael and their partionist cohorts adopted their great ideas for our Ireland.Just imagine for one minute the spectical if England were to change its constitution, change its flag and drop its language just to appease all those different nationalities that want to live there and be English. Ireland is IRISH , north, south east and west.Love it or leave it.No excuses 'shooh" slan abhaile, so long.

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DanOLoingsigh | Feb 01, 2012, 05:54 PM EST

The notion that a united Ireland would mean NI just waltzing into the current southern state may not be how it works out... a few of the ‘issues’ to consider for the new state. A new constitution to reflect the heritage of all the citizens of this new country (they didn’t get any vote in the 1937 one)…perhaps recognising English as the first official language…a new flag, for the same reasons…negotiate how much of the UK National Debt will fall to the new country…some per capita quota is normal; how soon the current UK subvention to NI is pared down, and what that means for tax rates, more pressing if Scotland also separates…decisions on joining NATO and/or the Commonwealth…dropping Irish language qualifications for public sector jobs, except in the Gaeltacht?…how FF/FG/SF react on realisation that the unionist bloc vote could make or break any government, and so on and so on…

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Sparklet | Feb 01, 2012, 03:46 PM EST

Barneyjo, I think you're absolutely right. There's generally peace and equality in NI now - well, as much as there is anywhere else, and when it comes down to it, that's what people want. Nationalism just isn't as important as seeing your family safe and secure. Living in a war zone for so long has wearied most people of political ideals.

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barneyjo | Feb 01, 2012, 03:23 PM EST

It would seem that TiocfaidhArmani is not as well versed in his Irish History as he would have us all believe. There is no appetite, either North or South for the creation of a de facto 32 County Sovereign state. It may come at some time in the future, but in the very long term when enough Unionists and Nationalists recognise that there is a future in such an arrangement as opposed to remaining in the current status quo!!

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Curitiba | Feb 01, 2012, 03:20 PM EST

Hi Mercenary, that article was before the newspapers were on the internet, in the 90's, but I Googled "Scottish Catholics in Ulster" and got quite a few interesting results.

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DanOLoingsigh | Feb 01, 2012, 02:25 PM EST

@TiocfaidhArmani - The revised Article 3 of the constitution sets out that citizens of each jurisdiction need to say yes…so all will get a vote, but each part must achieve a simple majority…

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ciaradexy | Feb 01, 2012, 01:43 PM EST

Grow up Tiocfaidh. Where do you live? Political change would affect the citizens of NI therefore it should be up to them to decide.

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ancavker | Feb 01, 2012, 01:24 PM EST

citizen69: They may not have a choice the Englisg would love to have them gone, contrary to what Fallsroad says.

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TiocfaidhArmani | Feb 01, 2012, 01:06 PM EST

Let it be over the 32 counties, why should only 6 counties get a voice? There might be 800,000 unionists but over the whole island they are a minority. They gerry mandered a state to protect a small minority and it was wrong then and it's wrong now! Brits Out!

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citizen69 | Feb 01, 2012, 12:08 PM EST

Catholics are doing fine in Northern Ireland. They are more upwardly mobile and have a bigger middle class in proportion to their Protestant counterparts. Catholic kids are more highly educated and more go on to university than Protestants... And in an Irish Independent article i read a year or so ago, seven out of the ten richest people in Northern Ireland were Catholic including all of the top three. Why would they want to unite with the Republic?

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ciaradexy | Feb 01, 2012, 11:21 AM EST

Esat, I agree with most of your points there. With a bit of luck, the current government wont last too long as we can get the ULA in there. Theyll ensure the church is put in its place, religious names will be taken off non religious buildings and everyone will be on a similar playing field.

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