The South Down MLA was speaking from The Mansion House in Dublin, where the official Irish Government celebrations were held on Monday to mark the 100th anniversary of An Chéad Dáil, the First Dáil Éireann which sat on 21st January 1919.

“The prospect of Brexit in Ireland once again demonstrates the failure of partition, and further exposes the gaping democratic deficit inherent in a partitioned Ireland.
“Now on the centenary anniversary of the First Dáil there is an onus on the Irish government to plan for unity. To become a persuader for unity.
“To build the maximum agreement and for all nationalists, republicans and progressive forces to secure and win a referendum on unity so that we may establish a truly national, democratic Irish Republic.”








