Patrick Kielty has told The Brendan O’Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1 that the debate on a united Ireland is “overdue”.

The presenter joined Dearbhail McDonald on the programme to pick key songs from his life ahead of the return of The Late Late Show on Friday.

His comments came on the day that US President Donald Trump said that he would “love” to see a united Ireland.

Ahead of Kielty’s final song choice on the programme, Christy Moore’s Viva La Quinta Brigada, host McDonald said: “Yourself and [British Prime Minister] Andy Burnham, who recently had a big, big intervention in the unity conversation, have both chosen a Christy Moore song for your final choice.

“Before we just go to it, you’re on the Late Late, you’re going to be doing those big, big conversations – are we ready for that big unity debate?”

“I think it’s overdue,” replied Kielty.

“I think that all I’ve heard for the last five years is that, ‘Well, we must have a chat about the future of this island’. And no one has turned around and said, ‘Ok, you go first’.” (Laughs)

“I think that it’s this lovely cliché,” he continued.

“And I would suggest that if there’s quite a lot of people north of the border that don’t want to have the chat, you might have to go first. And you might have to turn around and say, ‘Ok, I know I need to persuade you. Therefore, I’m going to go first, and I’m going to set this out’.

“And then someone’s going to say, ‘Well, you know, that’s not how I feel’.

“And so, nobody’s going to take any raincoats off when it’s raining. Like, it’s only the sunshine that’s going to do that.

“And I think the more honest and open people are about what they agree on, but more importantly, what they disagree on, will leave us in a much better state to move forward.”

During the interview, Kielty also discussed the murder of his father, Jack, by the UFF in Co Down in January 1988, grief, his early comedy days, and being the host of The Late Late Show.

Along with Christy Moore, his music choices included Roy Orbison, Bruce Springsteen, The Stone Roses, and Emmylou Harris.

The Late Late Show returns for a new season on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Friday, 18 September at 9:35pm.

The Brendan O’Connor Show, Saturday and Sunday, RTÉ Radio 1, 11:00am