Simon Harris says united Ireland not currently a ‘priority’

By Cillian Sherlock and Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

The next leader of the Government has said he is not currently prioritising a united Ireland.

Simon Harris, who is due to be appointed as taoiseach on Tuesday following the resignation of Leo Varadkar last month, said it was more important to focus on North-South economic collaboration.

Asked if he shared the view of his predecessor that there would be a united Ireland in his lifetime, Mr Harris said: “I would like to see a united Ireland, but that is not where my priority lies right now.”

Mr Harris was recently selected as the new leader of the Fine Gael party, which is holding its annual Ard Fheis conference this weekend.

Speaking to reporters in Galway city ahead of the conference, he said: “Right now, the priority has to be on working the potential of the Good Friday Agreement.

“We live in a country where we have had one of the most successful and enduring peace processes, but I think it’s fair to say it’s still a frosty peace.

“I don’t think we’ve yet seen the full potential of that, in terms of economic prosperity, in terms of the North-South economy, in terms of areas of co-operation and collaboration.”

He said he did not want to say anything provocative, and added: “I am somebody who would like to see a United Ireland, that is a legitimate political aspiration for me to hold.

“But right now I think the priority has to be on embedding the institutions in the North, supporting the Northern Ireland Executive, using the Shared Island Fund to bring about real practical areas of co-operation.”

There will be a North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh on Monday.