Sinn Féin calls on London and Dublin to now prepare the “conversation” on an Irish unification consultation. The leader of the Republican Party, Mary Lou McDonald, and the new First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, assure that the referendum will be during this decade.

The relevance of a political message—any communication expert knows this—is directly proportional to the importance of the person who transmits it. The latest polls, such as that of Ipsos for the Irish Times, reflect the worst level of Sinn Féins support in the last three years.