Kenny said that Brexit negotiations should take into account a possibility of a vote to unite Ireland, pointing to a clause in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
I want to assure the Irish public that we have prepared to the greatest extent possible for the eventuality of the UK leaving the EU.
— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) June 24, 2016
Speaking about the implications of Brexit, Kenny said the trigger for an Irish reunification referendum would be "clear evidence of a majority of people wishing to leave the UK and join the Republic."
Ireland's Prime Minister used EU membership/Brexit to compare possible Irish reunification to East & West Germany pic.twitter.com/hTVGNkkPiL
— Liam Stack (@liamstack) July 18, 2016
"The discussions and the negotiations that take place over the next period should take into account the possibility — however far out it might be — that the clause in the Good Friday Agreement might be triggered," he told broadcaster RTE.
"In that, if there's clear evidence of a majority of people wishing to leave the United Kingdom and join the Republic — that should be catered for in the discussions that take place."
Kenny's comments are significant given he has previously remained coy on the issue of Irish unity.
Fears of Post-Brexit Dissolution
While the thought of a united Ireland had seemed an unrealistic prospect for many, the Brexit vote — and Northern Ireland's decision to vote to stay in the EU — has raised questions about whether Northern Ireland and Scotland could break away from the UK.
There are also concerns over Northern Ireland's border with the Republic of Ireland.
Brexit against the wishes of Scotland and Northern Ireland would violate the UK’s constitutional settlement https://t.co/E4M0KWf5P3
— LSE EUROPP blog (@LSEEuroppblog) July 13, 2016
While border checkpoints were in place during previous decades, they have since been disbanded, with concerns some border controls may need to be introduced again.
There have also been fears that the Brexit vote could lead to a flare up in sectarian violence between unionists and pro-independence republicans.
Talk of 'All-Island Solution'
The power to call a referendum on Irish reunification ultimately lies with the British Secretary of State, however the Good Friday Agreement stipulates that a vote can be called if there is evidence of a strong change in opinion in favor of Irish unity.
Kenny said the possibility of an "all-island solution" should be considered, saying pro-reunification sentiment could grow with the UK leaving the EU.
.@GerryAdamsSF welcomes Taoiseach Enda Kenny's comments regarding Irish Unity. #UnityRef pic.twitter.com/bfyaXwM3wN
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) July 19, 2016
"It may be, in the eyes of some, a fanciful theory but who knows what happens in 10, 20 years' time," Kenny said, pointing to the successful reunification of Germany.
"In the same way as it was possible for the former East Germany to be associated with West Germany, and not to have to go through a long and tortuous process to join the European Union — and these negotiations should take these kinds of things into account as well."
Enda Kenny also compared the possible reunification of Ireland to the 'absorbing' of East Germany into West Germany after the wall came down
— Jennifer Bray (@Jennifer_Bray) July 18, 2016
Kenny's comments directly contradict those of new Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire, who ruled out a vote on unification.
He said there was a "clear, constitutional settlement in relation to the border poll and it's also clear to be that opinion does not support a change."
"We do need to move on now. I think that we do need to focus on the best possible outcome for Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom outside the European Union."
