A leading Irish politician has warned that a Scottish vote for independence will lead to a referendum on a United Ireland on both sides of the border.
Former European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton has also voiced her concerns for the peace process if such a referendum takes place.
The latest opinion polls suggest Scotland will vote in favor of independence next week, a real worry for Unionist politicians in Ulster.
And Creighton, a former Fine Gael Minister set to lead a new political party in the Republic, has told the Irish Independent that a United Ireland referendum would be ‘inevitable’ in the wake of such a vote.
Creighton told the Irish Independent: “It would be extraordinary if Scotland gained autonomy while Northern Ireland remained part of Britain.
“That would be a pretty unbelievable move that I don’t think anybody could have contemplated 10 years ago. It will have major political consequences for Ireland if it is carried.
“I think it would inevitably lead to demand for such a referendum in the North. I don’t know what the outcome of such a referendum would be. We are all committed now to the principle of consent in Northern Ireland, respective of both communities and that’s something I would feel very strongly about.”
Deputy Creighton also said the latest opinion poll is ‘a major wake-up call’ for Irish people and warned that calls for a referendum in the north could be damaging.
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She stressed: “My fear is that a referendum of that sort in the North at this juncture would actually threaten the peace process and would alienate the Protestant community and could actually be very dangerous.
“I’m not sure the peace process is advanced enough and that peace is embedded in the North given the controversies over flags. The power-sharing executive is fraught and can be a difficult way of working.”
Creighton has called on the Irish government to support Scotland’s efforts to gain EU membership but agreed that the Dublin government should only comment after the referendum.
European Parliament member Brian Hayes has stated that the Scottish referendum has ‘immense consequences’ for the UK and predicted that a 'Yes' victory would increase the likelihood of the UK leaving the EU.
Hayes said: “Ireland needs to take account of the evolving dynamics of the British state and how we should respond to these changes.
“For example, what is the likely impact of Scottish independence on Northern Ireland politics? In many respects, Northern Ireland’s links with the UK are more with Scotland than with rest of the UK.”
The Irish government is monitoring the Scottish referendum, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The spokesperson told the Irish Independent: “The Government is monitoring developments and their implications in light of our interests and policy objectives.”
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