THERE has been a lot of focus in recent months about the nature of a referendum on a united Ireland: when will it happen and what is the mechanism?

That focus is distracting from the cause and delivery of the goal.

We find ourselves arguing about unknowables when there is so much else to be done today to achieve that goal.

It often feels like we are discussing the next hand of cards we might be dealt whilst we are not concentrating on the hand we have currently and there is so much to be done, and can be done, right now.

Máiría Cahill: Nationalism must confront its own toxic triumphalism

Tiernan Brady: A border poll won’t be won by waiting for one

Whatever the actual process will be, what is clear is that there is no real scenario where a referendum will be called until people and politicians think it is likely to pass.

Currently the polls clearly show that we have more work to do to get to that point. They suggest that the support levels are somewhere in the 40s . We can argue about whether it is 41% or 49% but neither figure is enough.

The real mission at this stage for those of us who support a united Ireland is how do we get that support level up into the 50s so that we can demonstrate that it is the will of the majority of the people.

That campaign should be our priority. The focus on setting a........

© The Irish News