An interim report regarding Ireland’s unification referendums has suggested that they should only be held with a clear plan for the future.
The report tries to find out how the future referendums on Northern Ireland’s constitutional status would be carried out. The report is amassed with prominent academics.
According to the findings of the report, the potential referendums should begin in good time, which is before the votes and the governments of Ireland and UK must lead it.
Both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, unification can only be achieved through referendums.
The Good Friday Agreement supplies the framework for holding a referendum in Northern Ireland. It stipulates that a majority of 50% + 1 would be required to change the status quo.
UK’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has the decision to hold a referendum in the North. In order to maintain public trust, they must act with visible care and transparent honesty.
The Secretary of State is recommended to weigh up a range of evidence in arriving at the decision to hold a border poll, including election results, opinion polls and votes in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
A referendum would have to be held in the Republic, if North votes in favour of unification and according to the report, the votes could happen on the same day.
According to the groups, the Irish government needs to develop proposals for the formation of a united Ireland.
For the better functioning of this, either the group suggests to propose a model well in advance or the government could propose a process through which a model would be worked out later.
Both the governments, Ireland and the UK would negotiate the terms of the transfer of sovereignty if the voters back unification.
The working group also pointed out the need of strengthening the rules for referendum and election campaigns in the UK and Ireland, because they are badly out of date.
The University College London’s Constitutional Unit created the document by a working group.
12 academic experts from universities in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and the United States makes the group.
“We have embarked on this work not because we think referendums are imminent—we do not—but because the whole process needs to be thought through well in advance,” said the group’s chair, Dr Alan Renwick of UCL’s constitution unit.
“To hold another referendum without a proper plan would risk the legitimacy of such a vote and political stability on the island of Ireland.” He added.