Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WORKING TOGETHER ..BUT NOT TOO CLOSELY
Smiles for Martin as he makes first trip here since becoming Taoiseach
collaboration through the North West Cancer Centre and the all-island Congenital Heart Disease Network, for example.
“I told the Taoiseach that I am keen to have positive dialogue during his tenure based on mutual respect for both jurisdictions and understanding of each other’s differences.”
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill added: “I welcome An Taoiseach’s visit north today.
“We had much to talk about, both in terms of immediate matters and the need to make progress on a number of longstanding issues and commitments.
“We discussed economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the ongoing public health response and the need for a joined up approach across the island where possible.
“We spoke about the potential implications of Brexit and the pressing concerns this raises. I set out the need to work together to protect the needs and interests of people and businesses across this island.
“Key to addressing this critical issue and other strategic challenges is the immediate restoration of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, and I’m pleased that a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council has now been confirmed.
“It is now six months since the restoration of the Executive and I made clear to Micheal that we must see delivery of all the Irish government’s commitments in New Decade, New Approach.
“I look forward to working on a north-south basis to ensure those crucial funding and practical commitments are fulfilled as soon as possible.”
Mr Martin later said the Good Friday Agreement was his “touchstone”.
He added: “I will be an engaging, understanding Taoiseach, trying to keep people together and trying to move forward on the economic front in particular, and also in terms of getting projects over the line that we have been talking about for some time.”
He promised to take a pragmatic approach based on key relationships underpinning peace and reconciliation on the island and said he understood the need to build relations.
Infrastructure improvements like cross-border roads were part of the New Decade, New Approach deal which restored powersharing in January.
Since then much of the focus of both administrations has been on dealing with Covid-19.
He met with other Northern Ireland party leaders including the SDLP’S Colum Eastwood at the nearby Stormont Hotel yesterday.