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McDonald on front of a mural of Bobby Sands on the Falls Road in Belfast. Liam McBurney/PA Images

Mary Lou McDonald says 'a chaotic Brexit' is not the time to seek a united Ireland

The Sinn Féin leader says that a hard Brexit is not good news for her party.

SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has said that a “crash Brexit” would not be the time to look at the Border poll or a united Ireland.

Speaking to the Press Association, McDonald said that a chaotic post-Brexit situation is “not a good news story for Sinn Féin”.

The party has previously stated that a vote on Irish unification should happen within five years but McDonald says it should not be pushed through.

McDonald said that Brexit creates “a problem” because a majority in Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU.

“The obvious thing would be to say, ‘well, have the Border poll and remove the Border. If the Border is the problem, simply take it away’. And there is a certain logic to that,” McDonald said.

I am very, very conscious that you can’t come at this issue in that simplistic way. It’s very important when we come to addressing the issue of partition we do it in the best possible climate and we do it in a way that maximises consent.

So to say to you, to be clear on this, it is not my preferred option or our preferred option that we deal with the issue of Irish unity in a climate that is unsteady or unstable or chaotic, in other words in the context of a crash Brexit or a very hard Brexit.

(Click here if video doesn’t play)

“I don’t want those things to happen, that is by no means ideal, and despite what the commentariat might say from time to time, that is not a good news story for Sinn Féin,” the Dublin TD added.

“We’re very, very conscious that the ‘how’ of doing this really, really matters. It matters by the way for the whole country, for the whole island, but it matters particularly here in the north, given the experience that aren’t long part of conflict.”

Speaking at the MacGill Summer School last week, former DUP leader Peter Robinson said that he did not envisage a united Ireland happening but that he felt it was wise for unionists to prepare for it regardless.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
    Favourite Declan Noonan
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:41 AM

    It’s time to go for a drive over Sally Gap and get stuck

    61
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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:29 AM

    I hate winter and I hate snow. I want spring – NOW!

    39
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    Mute John John
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:29 AM

    I bet when anyone reads the above comment they are singing it in their head

    37
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    Mute John John
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:28 AM

    Oh the weather outside is frightful
    But the fire is so delightful
    And since we’ve no place to go
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    It doesn’t show signs of stopping
    And I’ve bought some corn for popping
    The lights are turned way down low
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    When we finally kiss good night
    How I’ll hate going out in the storm!
    But if you’ll really hold me tight
    All the way home I’ll be warm

    The fire is slowly dying
    And, my dear, we’re still goodbying
    But as long as you love me so
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:40 AM

    Wish I could give this more than one green thumb. Sadly only 0.01mm snow on the cars on our road this am! :-(

    6
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    Mute _doesnotcompute
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:13 AM

    Blame Canada.

    29
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    Mute Hugo Sanchez
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:26 AM

    Hmmmm last photo bit suspect..

    ^ ^ ^ off to google snowflakes

    28
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    Mute Hugo Sanchez
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:08 AM

    Let Fake Flake-Gate begin!!!

    22
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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:16 AM

    I always think snow looks different here. It’s wetter or something like it’s not real snow haha

    15
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    Mute karla carroll
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:18 AM

    That would be sleet.

    81
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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:20 AM

    No because it’s on the ground sticking like just not properly!

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    Mute Aaron Broughill
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:26 AM

    No because when it snows here the temperature is very rarely below zero, in the likes of Canada wheb it snows the temp is well below zero so the snow freezes

    37
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    Mute Mal
    Favourite Mal
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    Feb 5th 2013, 1:51 PM

    My wife over here in Sweden calls that wet snow! generally when we get snow here the temperature is at least around -3 degrees. The snow blows around like sand a lot of the time, it’s cold enough that it doesn’t melt on your hands, or clothes, or when the sun is out.
    It’s very different to what I knew as snow at home.
    A couple of weeks ago we had -15 degrees and sunny, it’s awesome! as much fun as warm weather methinks!
    Here’s a picture of a lake we walk across:

    https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_CqLUcAz2sM/URENqUB7-wI/AAAAAAAACnQ/kOzm9FXBODU/s772/20130120_130317.jpg

    5
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    Mute Tokidoll
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:03 AM

    I’m delighted to see my picture in there :-) It was a magical sight and a wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning.

    15
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    Mute Sloan Bonnar
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:35 PM

    Best send everyone home from work early, before the buses are taken off the roads early!!!!!

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    Mute Bláthnaid Belladonna
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:21 AM

    Can people send in more

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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:48 AM

    Another week we will be into the mild weather.

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    Mute Redcaff
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:21 AM

    You mean ‘Summer’.

    22
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    Mute Aileen Carroll
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    Feb 6th 2013, 8:08 AM

    No spring comes first

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    Mute Lee Jones
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:38 PM

    bah not a screed in kinsealy feck it

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    Mute Bláthnaid Belladonna
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:22 AM

    I got the answer. Just didn’t c it the first time.

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    Mute Kerry Quinn
    Favourite Kerry Quinn
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    Mar 26th 2013, 10:49 PM

    Come on now! Alittle bit of snow. Kick back and have a pint.

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    Mute Kerry Quinn
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    Mar 26th 2013, 10:40 PM

    Come on now! A little bit of snow. Kick back and have a pint with friends.

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