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MP Dáire Hughes, has said the party has introduced legislation to compel the Taoiseach to begin planning and preparation for constitutional change and Irish unity.
The legislation was introduced in the Dáil by Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald and will go to second stage debate tomorrow Tuesday 7 July.
The Newry and Armagh public representative said Irish reunification is the best idea for the future of Ireland, presenting what he called an immense historic opportunity for the country and its people to realise their economic, social and political potential.
Hughes said: "This important bill that Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has introduced in the Dáil will legislate for the planning and preparation for constitutional change and Irish reunification.
"It will now allow all TDs, political parties, independents and the government to formally come into the debate.
"The unity conversation is well under way, but conversation alone is not enough. To seize the opportunities of reunification, the Government must step forward and lead. This requires urgent work, real planning and careful preparation. That is what this bill directs the Government to do.
"It crucially directs the Taoiseach to publish a government Green Paper as a means of consultation with the people of the entire island. This will mean the Government setting out its ideas and proposals looking at health, education, broader public services, the economy, and ultimately governance of a new unified Irish state within the European Union."
The bill provides for the establishment of a Citizens' Assembly that would aim to bring together people and sectors from across the island, including unionists and those of a British identity, to consider all of the issues.
"As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in 2028, it is important to recognise the scale of the transformation that has occurred across Ireland over the past three decades. Today, peace is secure, and the next chapter of this island's political journey centres on constitutional change." Hughes added.
He continued "Irish reunification, ending partition, is the best idea for the future of Ireland. It presents an immense historic opportunity for our country and our people to realise our collective potential economically, socially and politically.
"The lesson of Brexit is clear: refusing to prepare for major constitutional change does not prevent instability, it guarantees it. The central question now is whether the government is prepared to confront the reality responsibly."
Hughes believes the bill provides the Dáil and the Irish Government with the unprecedented opportunity to commence preparation and planning for constitutional change and the reunification of Ireland.
