A border poll would serve no purpose and would polarise the communities in Northern Ireland, according to the Taoiseach's special adviser, Dr Martin Mansergh.
Responding to Mr David Trimble's call for such a poll, Dr Mansergh told The Irish Times that the Northern parties should concentrate on consolidating the Belfast Agreement. He also questioned Mr Trimble's unfavourable comparison between society in the Republic and in the UK.
He said the Belfast Agreement only provided for a poll on whether there should be a united Ireland, "if there is some reasonable possibility of change - a Quebec type situation. There would not be polls held just for propagandistic reasons as happened in 1971," he said.
"Nobody observing the process believes there is any immediate or early prospect of a united Ireland by agreement. People should be concentrating on working and consolidating the Good Friday agreement."
He said a Border poll would be "premature". He questioned the accuracy of the contrast Mr Trimble suggested existed between a successful, vibrant and multi-ethnic UK with the Republic which the First Minister described as "a pathetic, sectarian, mono-ethnic, mono-cultural State".
"You are talking about a country that is today a very successful country. Our economy is admired around the world, as is our culture, which would hardly be admired were it a monolithic and sectarian culture. This State is reasonably comfortable and confident about itself. It has integrated minority cultures reasonable well."
Frank Miller, London Editor, adds: Downing Street last night signalled it was open-minded about Mr Trimble's call for a Border poll on the same day as next year's Assembly elections.
The proposal appeared to take the Northern Ireland Office by surprise, and it is believed Mr Trimble did not discuss it in advance with Mr Blair. However, the Prime Minister's spokesman indicated Mr Blair's readiness to proceed with the debate triggered by Mr Trimble."He's made a proposal, now let's discuss it," he said.