Overview

• Leo Varadkar argued that a Nigel Farage-led UK government would shift attitudes in Scotland and among middle-ground voters in Northern Ireland, thrusting Irish unity into sharper focus
• Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly accused Varadkar of “reinventing himself” and noted that support for nationalist parties in Northern Ireland has held steady at around 40% since 1998
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin emphasized prioritizing reconciliation between all traditions on the island and bolstering UK-Ireland relations over election forecasts
• First Minister Michelle O’Neill described it as prudent to plan for potential constitutional change and called for a mature, evidence-based debate on a united Ireland
• Tánaiste Simon Harris said Irish-British relations are stronger than they have been in years and underlined the importance of practical cooperation on shared challenges