4 September 2026

The SDLP today met Tánaiste Simon Harris ahead of the publication of Fine Gael's blueprint on Irish unity, urging the party to set out how it intends to move the debate beyond aspiration and towards serious preparation for constitutional change.

Speaking after the meeting, SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP said:

"The SDLP's vision of a New Ireland is clear. It must be built through planning and inclusion, a project that reflects the Ireland of today, recognising our complicated history whilst building a reconciled future together. It will require focus, detail and ambition from the Irish government.

"For too long, the unity debate has gone little further than speculating about dates for a border poll and debating new flags. That might excite people who are already convinced, but it does very little to persuade those who aren't.

"That is why the SDLP has been investing time and thought in bringing new people into the conversation, particularly those who do not come from traditionally nationalist backgrounds.

"We have found real appetite and curiosity among people across the community, north and south. They have legitimate questions about what change would mean for their identity, their livelihoods, public services and the society they live in. Those questions deserve serious answers rather than slogans.

"We are equally conscious of the conversation that needs to happen in the South. Too often people look north and see political instability, repeated collapses of Stormont and parties determined to rerun old arguments and divisions. They could understandably ask why they would want to take that on.

"But Northern Ireland is so much more than the failure of political leadership we have experienced over recent years. We need only look at the extraordinary success of the Fleadh in Belfast a few weeks ago to see the real character, confidence and potential of the North when we are at our best.

"Our job is to demonstrate that Northern Ireland can be an asset to a New Ireland, not a liability, and that constitutional change will unlock opportunities.

"But key to success for those of us who are serious about unity is a process that doesn't factionalise the issue and which reflects the fact that this is an all-island project and requires input from all corners of Ireland.

"The SDLP is doing that work in the North and working with parties across the spectrum, as evidenced by our recent conference, The Future of These Islands: Preparing for Change.

"We look forward to seeing the Tánaiste's Blueprint in the coming weeks. But the test will be how these ideas are converted into a programme of preparation, and how Fine Gael use their mandate to collaborate with other advocates for a New Ireland to help build the consensus necessary for change."