Harris seeks views on Irish unity from party leaders on both sides of the border

Letter to leaders on both sides of the border

Tánaiste Simon Harris has written to political leaders north and south of the border, asking for their views on Irish unity and on the areas of common ground that might exist. Recipients in the Republic include Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who is also Taoiseach, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik and Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman. Leaders in Northern Ireland who received the letter include DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows, SDLP leader Claire Hanna, TUV leader Jim Allister and Alliance leader Naomi Long. Harris enclosed a copy of the Fine Gael blueprint and asked recipients for their views, along with any areas where further consideration is needed. He wants the discussion to be inclusive and evidence-based, respectful of differing constitutional views and anchored in the Good Friday Agreement and the principle of consent.

“No one political party owns the discussion about the future of this island, nor should any one party seek to determine its outcome.”

What the Fine Gael blueprint proposes

Fine Gael launched its blueprint for Irish unity at the party's Ard Fheis in early November 2026. Among the proposals is a new junior minister for North-South relations, based in a dedicated unit within the Department of An Taoiseach, and a dedicated sovereign wealth fund to meet the costs of transition. The party also wants policy responsibility for Northern Ireland moved to the Department of the Taoiseach, the budget of the 'reconciliation fund' doubled and its remit widened to focus on youth. Other proposals include expanding all-island cooperation through the North-South Ministerial Council, closer work on economic matters and a public repository for research on constitutional, economic and social questions. Research for the document drew on Professor Deirdre Heenan and Professor Stephen Kinsella, and Kinsella's economic study runs to some 50 pages.

Cost estimates differ

The cost of unity is the most contested part of the proposals, and the figures in circulation vary widely. The BBC reports that an economist who advises Harris put the first-year cost to the Irish exchequer at about €3bn (£2.5bn) to €25bn (£20.8). Irish Times columnist Deirdre Heenan cited a range of €3.5 billion to €30 billion a year and noted that most media coverage chose the highest number. RTE reported projections that unity could cost up to €25 billion a year. Heenan, who says she is not a member of any party, interviewed 75 people from political and civic society for the research, and she argues the price cannot be set until a model of a united Ireland is chosen.

“It is impossible to estimate the price of unity until you decide what model of a united Ireland is envisaged.”

Wider context and next steps

RTE links the renewed focus on unity to comments made by US President Donald Trump during his Irish visit in September, and reports that Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have also pushed fresh proposals on reunification. Micheál Martin has proposed appointing a chairperson to oversee research into possible future scenarios, including unification. According to the BBC, the Taoiseach circulated his own document on preparing for a united Ireland to his parliamentary party just days before Fine Gael published its blueprint. Irish Times columnist Pat Leahy wrote that delegates at the Ard Fheis were more doubtful than enthusiastic about Harris's centre-right pitch, and that unity would require the tighter public spending Harris advocated. Harris's letter asks the other parties to respond to those proposals.