Northern Ireland

Poll on Irish unity possible in next decade, says Michelle O’Neill

Newly elected First Minister of Northern Ireland said that ‘change that is happening’ on the island of Ireland

Michelle O’Neill: “When Mary Lou McDonald talks that it is within touching distance, I believe that we are in the decade of opportunity.” Picture: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s new First Minister, has said she expects a vote on Irish unity to take place in the next decade.

Gillian Keegan, the British education secretary, said she did not want to speculate on the comments by O’Neill, who described it as the “decade of opportunity”.

The Sinn Féin vice president became the first-ever nationalist to assume the post of First Minister during a historic sitting of the Stormont Assembly on Saturday, ...