THE MAJORITY of Irish people want a united Ireland, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of The Times.
Support for Irish reunification appears stronger than ever with four in every five Irish people quizzed in favour of the idea.
According to The Times poll, more than 40 per cent of voters want to see a united Ireland in the next decade, while a further 19 per cent want unification to happen within 20 years.
12 per cent want a united Ireland within the next 30 years while eight per cent are happy for it to happen more than 30 years from now provided it comes within their lifetime.
By contrast, just 20 per cent of Irish people polled were opposed to the idea of a united Ireland.
The online poll, conducted by Panelbase between January 24 and 30, found women were more in favour of a united Ireland happening within the next ten years than men.
45 per cent of women want Irish reunification in the next decade compared with 39 per cent of men.
There was also greater support among younger voted for a united Ireland within 10 years with 48 per cent of 18 to 34 year olds in favour compared with 42 per cent of 35 to 54 year olds and 36 per cent of 55 to 70 year olds.
Elsewhere, 54 per cent of Sinn Fein voters in 2016 backed Irish reunification by 2030, compared ith 32 per cent of Fine Gael voters and 39 per cent of Fianna Fáil supporters.
Interestingly, around Half of those who did not vote in the 2016 elections were in support of a united Ireland within the next decade.
The Panelbase poll is basd on representative sample of 1,019 Irish voters.