Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein's vice president and First Minister of Northern Ireland, is calling on the UK Government to set a date for a border poll on Irish unification, ideally aligning with the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April 2028.

O’Neill criticizes the Irish Government for not proactively planning for constitutional change and urges them to facilitate discussions on Ireland’s future, emphasizing the importance of respect and parity among all citizens.

She points to recent electoral changes and political shifts, including the end of a long-standing unionist majority, as evidence that public opinion is increasingly favoring a referendum.

Meanwhile, Irish leaders Micheal Martin and Simon Harris have stated that a border poll is not a current priority for Ireland.

The Irish Government has reiterated that a border poll is not on their immediate agenda, with both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister emphasizing this stance.

Although Sinn Fein advocates for a border poll by the end of the decade, the UK Government retains the sole authority to trigger the referendum, which depends on evidence of shifting public opinion—a criterion that has not been clearly defined by successive UK governments.

Criticism is also directed at the UK Government, especially Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration, for not providing clear criteria or plans for when a border poll might occur, despite electoral shifts indicating increased support for unification.

Prime Minister Sunak has stated that a border poll is not imminent, and the UK Government has so far declined to set specific criteria for when a public opinion shift would trigger the referendum.