Aontú Considers a High Court Judicial Review on Secretary of State’s refusal to hold Border Poll
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has stated that his party is considering an application to the High Court in Belfast for a Judicial Review into the refusal of the Secretary of State to hold a referendum on Irish Unity
An Teachta Tóibín stated:
“The Good Friday Agreement states that the Secretary of State shall exercise the power to direct the holding of a unity referendum if it appears likely to him that a majority in the north would express a wish to be part of a united Ireland.
“1,542 adults in the north of Ireland were interviewed between 30 August and 2 September this year by Lord Ashcroft, a British Conservative Peer, on the question of Irish reunification. 51% of the representative sample stated that they would vote for Irish Reunification. This is ground-breaking as it’s the first poll in the history of the northern state to give this result.
“Additionally, many other opinion polls have been taken in the last few years showing that support for the union between the north of Ireland and Britain is falling steadily. Indeed, there is a clear majority of younger voters seeking Irish Unity. In the south, the figures are even more pronounced with a large majority of those polled seeking reunification.
"There is no doubt that Brexit has played a massive part in winning support for unity as the obvious and practical way forward for all of Ireland. Aontú is contacted regularly by people from a unionist and Protestant background seeking to become Aontú members and activists.
"People see that it is illogical that Tories in London, who know nothing about Ireland and care even less, are making decisions on whether we can move people products or services around this island.
"We have also notified the Secretary of State Julian Smith of our considerations. We urge Mr Smith to do the right thing and implement the Good Friday Agreement."
