Mary Lou McDonald accuses Leo Varadkar of releasing his 'inner Shinner'

In an interview with the Irish Times, Mr Varadkar, who stood down as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach in April, stated that all parties should make a pledge in their election manifesto that Irish unification is "an objective, not an aspiration"

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has stated former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has revealed his "inner Shinner" following his comments on Irish unity.

In an interview with the Irish Times, Mr Varadkar, who stood down as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach in April, stated that all parties should make a pledge in their election manifesto that Irish unification is "an objective, not an aspiration".

He also said that "trends" indicate that there will be Irish unity in the coming decades.

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Asked about the former Taoiseach’s comments at the launch of Sinn Féin’s alternative budget, Ms McDonald stated that Mr Varadkar was releasing his "inner Shinner".

"Of course, it's belated, but I'm glad now that he's exited the position of [Fine Gael] leader that he's found his inner Shinner in his appetite for reunification," she said.

"This is where every political party should be. This is the big opportunity for our island to consolidate peace, to finally reach a point of reconciliation and to benefit from the huge economic and social and political opportunity that will present to us.

"This is a no brainer. Of course, it has to be more than rhetoric, like a soundbite is not enough.

"Those that are committed to reunification recognise there has to be a Citizen's Assembly, a structured democratic conversation. There has to be commitment to hold the holding of referendums.

"That's really the issue here, isn't it? If you believe that you support and enforce all of the Good Friday Agreement, well then you have to have a commitment to the holding of referendums.

"That's the point at which the people have their say. The people are sovereign on this matter, so let's have a conversation about that.

"I very much hope that every single political party will make clear-cut commitments in this regard, not just to move from an aspiration to an objective, but rather to move from an objective to an active plan of action."

Ms McDonald said that she was calling on Taoiseach Simon Harris to "make absolutely clear" what Fine Gael’s position is on holding referendums and the need to plan for the prospect.

The Sinn Féin leader’s remarks about Mr Varadkar’s comments have been criticised, however, by some politicians in Northern Ireland.

The SDLP’s Matthew O’Toole stated that "Sinn Féin does not own the aspiration to Irish unity and this kind of stuff is frankly pathetic and offensive".

His party colleague Cara Hunter, MLA for East Derry, also branded the remarks "petty".

"Irish unity is a cause for all and all political parties are welcome to the discussion," she wrote on X.

"It’ll require us working together to achieve it.

"This rhetoric is silly and divisive, we need more cross-party collaboration in building our future, not point scoring."

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