TAOISEACH Mícheál Martin has said that the government in the south will set up a body to undertake research and preparation for the reunification of the country.
Speaking in an interview with Irish Times on Friday, the Taoiseach said that a new government body would be tasked with examining the challenges for a "different constitutional future," which includes examining what a thirty-two county united Ireland would look like.
Mr Martin intends to bring a memo to cabinet on proposed plans before Christmas. This latest development comes after Tanáiste Simon Harris asked Fine Gael's Northern Ireland to "develop a blueprint for a unified Ireland" in June.
President of Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald welcomed the announcement.
“I welcome the Taoiseach’s commitment to bring a memorandum to Government before Christmas proposing a new body to examine Ireland’s constitutional future, including Irish unity," she said.
“This is an important and welcome step. Preparations for Irish unity must now advance with urgency, backed by concrete action, a clear timetable and the resources necessary to undertake this work.
Ms McDonald said that ending partition "offers the biggest opportunity to build a stronger economy deliver better public services and create a fairer, reconciled society across the whole island."
I welcome the Irish Government’s announcement of this important step forward on the road to Irish unity. This is an opportunity we must seize. Preparations must now move forward with urgency, with the resources, ambition and inclusive approach needed to shape our shared future. This process must be inclusive from the outset, with everyone having a meaningful opportunity to contribute and have their say in shaping the future of our island.
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) October 30, 2026
“Our ambition is a new, united Ireland founded on equality, democracy, respect and reconciliation, where everyone belongs and every community has a stake in our shared future," she continued.
Ms McDonald called on the Irish Government to "lead the work of developing a credible, practical proposition for unity that can secure support, north and south."
She referenced people's questions around healthcare, education, jobs, pensions, public services and their rights, and called for the unity debate to set out how these issues would look in a United Ireland.
The Sinn Féin President also spoke about the role of people from a unionist background in a new Ireland, and said that the process "must be inclusive from the outset."
"Their British identity and traditions must be respected and protected, and their concerns and aspirations must be heard and taken seriously," she continued.
Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin are "confident in the case for Irish unity" and that they want to encourage support through "respectful engagement, persuasion and a compelling vision of the future."
She continued, saying Sinn Féin would "engage positively and constructively with this initiative and will be seeking engagement with the Government at the earliest opportunity," and that this was "a moment for leadership and ambition."
