Census figures showing the religious breakdown of Northern
society are to be published on Thursday.
The total number of Protestants is expected to be below the 50% mark, while the
Catholic figure is expected to be around 46%.
If these figures are accurate, they are likely to prompt unionist concerns
about the possibility of a united Ireland in the near future.
Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the North would only be reunited
with the Republic after a majority of voters supported such a move.
Jeffrey Donaldson, the anti-agreement Ulster Unionist MP, said he does not
predict a majority in favour of a united Ireland in the near future.
However, he has called for a different voting process which would require a
majority of unionists as well as a majority of nationalists to support a united
Ireland.
This, however, is not included anywhere in the Good Friday Agreement and
nationalist voters were never asked for their majority consent in the past to
keep the North as part of the UK.