Labour leader Ivana Bacik has called for the Government to confirm a timeline for a "unity referendum" on Northern Ireland in her leader's address to the party's annual conference this evening.
Ms Bacik made the call in a speech in which she also said there needs to be "further Constitutional change" to "protect" the triple lock, and heavily criticised the Government for running out of ideas to solve the housing crisis.
In the keynote address at the end of Labour's one-day annual conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel Limerick, Ms Bacik, for the first time, said she wants a clear timeline set out for what she described as a "unity referendum" or border poll.
While saying the matter should not be rushed, she said there is a need to give a deadline for when it would take place.
"As leader of a Republican party, I am calling now on the Irish and British governments to set a clear timeline for the holding of a unity referendum.
"We don't want a fourth green field for its own sake. We know better than to run a referendum in haste - without sufficient preparation, or groundwork.
"But we do need a clear timeframe to allow for preparation of a Green and White paper, for citizens’ assemblies. And for respectful and considered debate," she said.
"To start that process of preparation towards a United Ireland. That’s why we need a dedicated Government department - to carry out the necessary work of reconciliation and unity planning."
Read more: Unity of purpose among Opposition a boost for Bacik
In the same address, the Labour leader also called for "further constitutional change" to "protect" the existing triple lock rules, and said the Government must pass the Occupied Territories Bill in full by Christmas - saying it must include both goods and services.
Meanwhile, Ms Bacik also raised the housing crisis by describing it as the "civil rights issue of this generation" and warning the Government "has no answers" for people searching for a home, labelling Government's latest plan as "old milk in new bottles".
On talk of a united left platform, the Labour leader congratulated President Catherine Connolly for her recent election and said the way left-leaning parties worked together during the campaign gives "hope" to a wider left platform.
However, she added "to be clear, Labour will contest the by-election" in Galway West to fill the Dáil seat now vacated by Catherine Connolly, in a reference to how the party - like others - intends to continue campaigning as a single entity.
Sheehan brands Tánaiste a 'populist'
Earlier today, Labour spokesperson on housing Conor Sheehan TD described Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris of being "populist" due to his recent comments on the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland.
Speaking to reporters this morning, Mr Sheehan was asked about comments he made in an interview with TheJournal.ie today where he said Mr Harris is a "populist".
Asked about the comments, which were rejected by Simon Harris, Mr Sheehan said "he is a populist, that's just a matter of fact" and referenced recent comments on asylum seeker numbers.
Mr Sheehan said the Tánaiste's recent comments about asylum seeker numbers were "another form of populism" and that he stands by his comments.
Asked about the comments at a Fine Gael farming conference,Mr Harris said he is "really quite shocked and taken aback by how reluctant politicians in our national parliament are to discuss migration".
The Fine Gael leader described the "appalling" situation last year on Mount Street in Dublin "when we had nearly a tented village" in the location, before saying "Ireland has to have a national migration strategy, its' kind of bizarre we don't".
Mr Harris said "the effort to shut down this debate is kind of startling" and is in his view "one of the reasons why people are disconnected" to politics.
He said the "media bubble" does not decide what issues are of importance to people, and that "the only populist stuff that's come from this is the left trying to caricature me, and they won't succeed".
