THE majority of people on both sides of the Irish border do not want to see a united Ireland now but would support it happening in the future.
A survey carried out by RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland revealed last night that just 13 per cent of Northern Irish people want to see a united Ireland now; while that figure for the Republic was 36 per cent.
But a different picture was painted when people were asked if they would support a united Ireland in their lifetime.
In the North of Ireland, the figure more than doubled to 30 per cent; while in the Republic it was a vast majority at 66 per cent.
Among those from a Catholic background in the North of Ireland, a slight majority showed their support for the North to leave Britain.
Just over half - at 52 per cent – supported a united Ireland now; while 57 per cent of those supported it happening in their lifetime.
The survey was jointly commissioned by RTÉ’s Prime Time and BBC NI’s The Nolan Show.
A research team asked the questions of just over 1,000 people each side of the border.
It also looked at a variety of other issues from attitudes to cross-religion marriage and how the North of Ireland should be governed.
