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The Irish government does not support the establishment of a citizens assembly to discuss what a united Ireland may look like, said Foreign Minister Simon Coveney at the third meeting of the shared island dialogue series. Coveney commented that such an assembly would not gather Unionist support. “We can’t have a predetermined outcome,” he said, adding that “there is an argument that we need to set up a citizens’ assembly to have a conversation around the reunification of Ireland. “If that’s a point, it will be very hard to get everybody into that conversation,” he added. …

European Union leaders meeting Saturday to approve the guidelines that will drive divorce negotiations with Britain will also assess wording which would allow a united Ireland — including Northern Ireland — to become part of the bloc at a potential future date. Two European officials said that the issue was likely to be added to the minutes of the summit, which will be held without British Prime Minister Theresa May. The officials asked not to be identified because the summit of 27 EU leaders still was being prepared. …