Invite to Dublin event declined by DUP leader
ARLENE Foster has declined an invitation to attend an event during the Pope’s visit to Dublin.
A spokesman said that the DUP leader would be away with her family at the time.
The Irish Government had invited her to attend a speech by the Pontiff in Dublin Castle next Saturday.
A DUP statement said: “Mrs Foster appreciates the invitation but regretfully will be away with her family at that time.
“She particularly acknowledges the significance of this event for many Roman Catholics in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.”
A DUP spokesman also confirmed last night that there would be no representative of the party at the Dublin Castle event.
Mrs Foster has previously met the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin.
In June, she travelled to Clones in County Monaghan to attend the GAA’s Ulster final between Donegal and her native Fermanagh.
Speaking later, Mrs Foster said she had received a very warm welcome.
Other political leaders in Northern Ireland have also been invited to attend the event during the papal visit.
UUP leader Robin Swann also turned down an invitation to the August 25 event.
A spokesman said that Mr Swann was unable to attend as he will be participating in the annual Black Saturday Parade in Larne.
The spokesman added: “Robbie Butler MLA will be representing the Ulster Unionist Party at the event.”
It is thought Mr Butler will be the sole official representative of Northern Ireland unionism to attend.
Leader of the SDLP Colum Eastwood and his deputy Nichola Mallon will both be in attendance at papal events during Pope Francis’s visit, a spokeswoman for the party said last night.
It was also learned that Alliance Party leader Naomi Long is also unable to accept the Dublin Government’s invitation to the papal event at Dublin Castle.
“Naomi Long will unfortunately be out of the country at the time of the events and so will be unable to attend,” an Alliance Party spokesperson told the Belfast Telegraph last night.
“However, another Alliance representative will be taking her place,”
It has not yet been decided as to who the Alliance Party’s representative at the Dublin Castle event will be.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, has also been invited to Dublin Castle by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.
Last night, a spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said it was not policy to disclose the Secretary of State’s movements in advance.