- CNN.com - Unionist demands unification vote
- No purpose in Border poll, says Ahern adviser. It would be premature.
- Good day for politics, bad one for manners discusses why Trimble might have proposed the referendum.
- I think this article has the immediate reason for a call for a referendum now. Voter turnout. Trimble thinks they unionists haven't been doing well due to a low voter turnout and by holding a referendum on the same day as the next election they'll do much better. Re-elected Trimble calls for united Ireland poll
- The BBC does include a mention of the requirement for seven years between unification referendums: Calls for Trimble to 'reconsider' comments
- So it basically sounds to me as though Trimble is bringing this up to:
- Get Unionists to the polls.
- Call the referendum while there's a good chance of it being rejected.
- Thereby postponing any new referendum for seven years.