NICOLA Sturgeon has hinted she would like to see a united Ireland as she told a Dublin-based audience she believed it may come to pass “before too long”.

The First Minister was speaking at the Irish Times’ Winter Nights Festival when she made the comments as she discussed how the relationship between Scotland and Ireland was becoming closer as a result of Brexit – with people of both countries strongly opposed.

Asked by leading Irish Times journalist Fintan O’Toole if she would like to see a united Ireland, she said: “I think you can possibly guess my sort of general prediction around that.

“But it’s not for me. I get, as most people in Scotland do, annoyed not for people expressing personal views around Scottish independence, everyone, no matter who they are and where they come from is entitled to do that. But I get annoyed in the sense that it is for anyone other than for people in Scotland, who live in Scotland, wherever they come from, they don’t have to be Scottish, to make that decision.”

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She added: “So it’s entirely a matter for people in Ireland. Is that the direction of travel? I suspect Brexit probably makes it more likely than it was before and we will watch and see. I do have friends in Ireland and we sometimes joke about which will come first, an independent Scotland or a united Ireland.

“Who knows. Maybe neither will happen – although I absolutely firmly believe that an independent Scotland will happen and maybe before too long we will see both of them happening.”

O'Toole also asked her if she felt she had a responsibility towards Unionists in Northern Ireland to reassure them about their future if Scotland became independent.

She said did she feel responsible in terms of peace continuing in Northern Ireland and said she would play her part to help ensure that was the case.

She added: "What I argued for during the Brexit process was always even it it didn't further the interests of Scotland to recognise the vital importance, the primary importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement and peace in Northern Ireland. I think all of us feel a responsibility for that.

"Scotland becoming independent is not turning our back on people in Northern Ireland, unionist or nationalist. It's not turning our back on people in England and Wales. It's about changing the basis of the relationship."

She pointed out that as First Minister of Scotland she attended British Irish Council meetings along with the UK and Irish Government, and representatives of the devolved administrations and Crown dependencies.

"If Scotland becomes independent we still sit around that table," she said.

"It's just the capacity in which we sit there changes. We go from being a devolved administration to another independent country...but we don't leave the British Isles."

The Sunday Times last weekend published the results of opinion polls in the four nations of the UK, which found a majority of voters thought Scotland was likely to be independent in the next 10 years and also found growing support for Irish unity.

In Northern Ireland, 47% of voters told the pollster they still want to remain in the UK, with 42% in favour of a United Ireland and a significant proportion – 11% – undecided.

However, asked if they supported a referendum on a United Ireland within the next five years, 51% said yes, compared with 44% who were against.

Across all four nations, more voters expected Scotland to be out of the UK within 10 years than thought it would still remain.

Earlier this week, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said a referendum on Irish unity should take place before 2030.

The former Fianna Fail leader reportedly told an internal party grouping that a border poll should happen at the end of the decade “when the work is done”.

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The comments were made to the Cosmhuintir group and reported by the Irish Examiner.

The Good Friday Agreement, which underpins the peace process, recognises the right of the people of the island of Ireland to bring about a united Ireland, subject to the consent of both parts. In order for Irish reunification to take place, border polls must be held in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

The Northern Ireland Act 1998 states “if at any time it appears likely to him that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland”, the Secretary of State shall make an Order in Council enabling a border poll.