German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned of a resurgence of conflict in
Ireland as a possible consequence of Britain leaving the EU.

Speaking at a meeting of German trade union leaders in Berlin, Mrs
Merkel (pictured, right) warned that current fears of a hard border following Brexit show
“how quickly you get to questions of war and peace”.

The remarks come just a week after top EU negotiator Michel Barnier
warned that there would inevitably be consequences, such as customs
controls, as a result of the

The dilemma of how to deal with the border through Ireland as a result
of Brexit has increased pressure for a ‘border poll’ within the Six
Counties on Irish reunification, which was specifically permitted under
the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

But DUP leader Arlene Foster claimed this week she does not expect to
see a referendum on a united Ireland in her lifetime, prompting
arguments that she is “running scared” from the debate.

Ms Foster, who is 46 years of age, dismissed renewed talk of a border
poll since the Brexit vote and Sinn Fein’s recent resurgence at the
polls.

During an interview with BBC Radio, the former First Minister, who is 46
years of age, said she was “very confident” there would not be a border
poll in her lifetime.

“There are many unionists who voted to remain within the European Union,
but if they were asked the question around staying in the United Kingdom
or going into a united Ireland, they would very firmly say that they
wanted to stay in the United Kingdom,” she claimed. “It won’t happen.”

‘RUNNING SCARED’

Sinn Fein’s Chris Hazzard said Mrs Foster was “running scared of public
opinion on an Irish unity referendum”.

He said her remarks again highlighted the DUP’s “arrogance and contempt
for the democratic process”.

The South Down Westminster candidate and Assembly member said a recent
opinion poll showed that a majority of people in the north were in
favour of holding a referendum on Irish unity.

“The Tory government’s attempt to drag us out of the EU against the
democratic wishes of the majority of people in the north has put the
debate on Irish unity front and centre in the political agenda,” he
said.

“The Good Friday Agreement contains provision for a referendum on Irish
unity and that cannot be swept aside by Arlene Foster or anyone else.”

Mr Hazzard said it was not in the DUP’s gift to determine when a border
poll happened.

“Her comments are another example of the arrogance of the DUP,” he said.

“Sinn Fein has called for a referendum on unity to be held within the
next five years and we are building support for that.”

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said that the comments were “based on wishful
thinking rather than any political foresight”.

He said the Brexit vote had transformed the constitutional landscape in
Ireland and Britain and that a recent acknowledgement that the north
could automatically rejoin the EU in the event of Irish reunification
had created an “unprecedented” opportunity.

“The job of Irish nationalism now is to put in the hard yards to make
sure we win a border poll. We have to persuade our friends and
neighbours that their interests are best served in a united Ireland,” he
said.

“A unity referendum is no longer the preserve of Irish nationalism
alone, it also belongs to European internationalism - a unity referendum
is our opportunity to unite this island within the European Union.”

Last month, European agreed measures that would enable the north to
automatically rejoin the EU in the event of a united Ireland. In April,
British ‘Brexit Minister’ David Davis gave a similar undertaking.

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