Durkan to lead SDLP drive for united Ireland

The Foyle MP will start the process by restarting the forum for Irish unity and promoting a northern panel in Seanad ireann.

Welcoming the new role he said: "I warmly welcome this appointment which will involve the carrying forward of party policy in the key area of Irish unity.

"At the launch of our general election manifesto we pledged to move on Irish unity by restarting the forum for unity and promoting a northern panel in Seanad Eireann.

"The SDLP is the only party that has spelled out an understanding of how unity can be pursued in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and how the principles and protections can be upheld in the event of a vote for unity.

"While on a personal and a party level I am proud that the SDLP has done leading thinking on the way ahead it is not enough for individual parties to just have their own versions of how things should be.

"It would be much more valuable to develop a shared vision.

"This should allow us to offer a prospectus for unity that is neither dismissed as a unionist nightmare nor denigrated as a nationalist fantasy.

"All democrats on the island including unionists and others will want to know that the coherent democratic pursuit of unity will in no way jeopardise the Agreement we already have, impede the development of its institutions or retard the important process of reconciliation.

"I would call on all nationalist parties to get together and address this issue."