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Foster speaking today in London John Stillwell/PA Images

Arlene Foster talks about her dad being shot by the IRA and 'no logic' in a hard border

Responding to her speech in London, Sinn Féin accused Foster of producing the “same old arrogance”.

IN A SPEECH in London today, DUP leader Arlene Foster said that unionism stands for “pluralism and multi-culturalism” while nationalism is “by its nature narrow and exclusive”.

In a wide-ranging speech at the Union and Unionism conference organised by conservative think tank Policy Exchange, Foster rejected the idea of a hard border after Brexit and said that UK had decided as “one nation” to leave the EU.

Describing herself as a proud unionist, she said that her party’s support of Theresa May’s Conservative government was about “much more than Northern Ireland” and attacked the claim that Northern Ireland’s relationship with the UK is more “take than give”.

In a statement responding to the speech, however, Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said that Foster had produced “no new thinking but more of the same old arrogance”.

Brexit

The DUP has repeatedly insisted it wants the UK to leave the single market and customs’ union after Brexit.

It also finds proposals to avoid a hard border that would see Northern Ireland remaining in these accords with EU, while the rest of the UK leaves them, as unpalatable.

A majority of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU, but Foster said today that the UK voted as “one nation” in favour of Brexit.

“Unionists, throughout the country – those who voted remain and leave – accept that we must exit the EU in a way that causes no damage to the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom,” she said.

In particular, the Prime Minister has been categorical on this matter. We will not support any withdrawal agreement that creates, through a legal protocol, a new regulatory border down the Irish Sea that acts as an impediment to Northern Ireland businesses trading with Great Britain or Great Britain businesses trading into Northern Ireland.

She said that it would be challenging for the British government to deliver on the referendum result but that she wanted to maximise the opportunities that may arise from the country’s exit from the EU.

“As a unionist I see no logic or rationale for a hard border being created between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic,” Foster said. “Indeed we do not want to see that at all.”

She accused those “committed to unpicking the union” of “stirring up myths of border checkpoints”.

Foster added that “some” have sought to use the Brexit vote to sow division in Northern Ireland.

‘No bullet or bomb would dampen… our Britishness’

Foster began the speech by talking about her unionist upbringing and described how her father – a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary – was shot at the door of their home.

“I remember my father crawling into our kitchen with the blood streaming from his head,” she said. “I didn’t fully understand the Troubles at that time but I realised that the enemies of the Union had tried to kill my dad.”

Foster said that the experience shaped her thinking, and that like many others she was determined that “no bullet or bomb would dampen our loyalty, our unionism or our Britishness”.

She said that the relationship between unionists in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has been strained, and the latter has viewed the likes of the DUP as “being hard to understand or relate to”.

The DUP leader said it’s understandable that Northern Irish unionists appeared a little different as they “felt little loved and saw dangers at every turn”.

Everyone seemed out to get them. Some in the Irish Republic. Some of their own neighbours in their hometowns and villages.

She added that Northern Ireland had come a long way since the Troubles and now unionists wanted to take the next steps.

‘Staggering position’

Sinn Féin’s Ó Muilleoir said that Foster’s comments were arrogant in “dismissing the entire nationalist population in this way”, and said her comments “don’t stack up to the reality”.

He said: “Where is the multi-culturalism for Gaelic speakers who are still being denied equal language rights by the DUP?

Where is the pluralism for the members of our LGBT community who are still being denied marriage equality by the DUP?

The South Belfast MLA accused the DUP leader of collapsing power sharing talks, but agreed with her that the issues which led to those talks falling down could be resolved.

He added: “Unfortunately, the only strategy we have seen from Arlene Foster is to do nothing other than prevent the restoration of the institutions on the basis of equality and there was nothing in her speech to indicate that any new approach is imminent.”

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    Mute Gerard J. Hannan
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    Mar 28th 2018, 7:46 AM

    Hopefully now that things are calming he might take time out to release a new Gangham song for us fans.

    101
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    Mute pats brandon
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    Mar 28th 2018, 7:06 AM

    Quick! Someone stop Leo before he invites him here!

    74
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    Mute Fabio Dillon
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    Mar 28th 2018, 7:09 AM

    @pats brandon: what has Leo got to do with this?

    79
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    Mute nelly
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    Mar 28th 2018, 7:58 AM

    @Fabio Dillon: it’s called a humorous comment and as for Leo and Kim that won’t happen as there is no way you can be seen to meet with a monster, who has destroyed his peoples lives and forced more than a few people to leave their home and birth place for a better life and whose people are now suffering from food shortage, no money and health system that is 3rd world and has people dying as a result.
    But if Kim has no problem with this and can overlook Leo’s faults and failings to the irish people so be it

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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:12 AM

    @nelly:
    Trying to compare Ireland to NK is moronic, even if its an attempt to be humourous.

    26
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    Mute nelly
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:27 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: so sorry snowflake, did I upset you

    27
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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:28 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: who performed your humour bypass?

    Damn good whoever it was….

    22
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:04 AM

    @Dessie Deratta:
    I have a great sense of humour thanks sweetheart – it’s just that there was nothing even remotely funny in Nelly’s comment.

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    Mute nelly
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:20 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: 25 thumbs up and counting says different. Unfortunately the journal and snowflakes, like yourself got rid of the red thumbs down, as you don’t do rejection well. Smiley face, smiley face, humorous face, laughing face. Wave bye bye

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    Mute Michael Geraghty Bodycoach
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    Mar 28th 2018, 10:17 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: I’d say you’re great Craic over a pint.

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    Mute Colm Mullen
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    Mar 28th 2018, 10:34 AM

    @nelly: except for food shortage, I agree 100%

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    Mute tweetforjunk
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    Mar 28th 2018, 11:38 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: No you don’t and yes there was.

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    Mute Anton Friendo
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    Mar 28th 2018, 11:55 AM

    @pats brandon: Leo can invite Justin Trudea for an afternoon of ..
    Orange Mocha Frappuccino’s ! !!!!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTrxEQnPtAg

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    Mute Fabio Dillon
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    Mar 28th 2018, 3:55 PM

    @nelly: yeah it’s not a humorous comment. Completely and utterly a non relevant comment. Thanks for your dribble though.

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    Mute pc_comments
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    Mar 28th 2018, 7:33 AM

    Chins finally taking some responsibility for this rogue leader with nuclear weapons which they created…….Have to give Trump some credit for this…..

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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Mar 28th 2018, 7:56 AM

    @pc_comments: What are you talking about?

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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:24 AM

    @pc_comments: in this case you could use the common typo “rouge regime” and still be right.

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Mar 28th 2018, 10:13 AM

    @pc_comments: yes, puzzled myself. Read somewhere, USA has 5500 nuke warheads, Russia has about 4000 nukes, China has 250, India and Pakistan have about 5 each, and there is world panic that Rocket Man may have 1 ???

    6
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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:03 AM

    Expel some Chinese diplomats.

    We don’t need an actual reason….or must we wait till British spooks instruct us to?

    37
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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:04 AM

    @Dessie Deratta: What has china done on ireland?

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    Mute Ronaldo Blanc
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    Mar 28th 2018, 2:09 PM

    @Sean Conway: What have the Russians done to Ireland? Tory boys Leo and Simon wanting to please their superiors.

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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Mar 28th 2018, 6:23 PM

    @Dessie Deratta: Stick to your day job.

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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:34 PM

    @Sean Conway: As we see from the Russian affair we don’t need a reason…neither China nor Russia have every done Ireland any harm.

    But lets expel them to show solidarity with the Pentagon.

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    Mute Ger Burke
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:11 AM

    Donald will sort out all those lads

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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Mar 28th 2018, 11:20 AM

    @Ger Burke: The guy can’t even hire a lawyer.

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    Mute Ger Burke
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    Mar 28th 2018, 3:00 PM

    @Larry Doyle: Thanks for the leftie input. Took a while for you to come up with that I’d say.

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    Mute Centerro
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:00 AM

    Now, let’s hope these two lads can sort things out themselves. No need for the US to stick their beak in. N.korea are no more a threat to the world than Wales are.

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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:16 AM

    @Centerro:
    Tell that to the South Koreans

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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:26 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: actually the SoKos are scared that Trump will start a war that will kill millions of them.

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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:08 AM

    @Dessie Deratta:
    It’s possible to be afraid of both the US and NK you know. They just don’t want a war full stop, and who could blame them?

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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:34 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: It’s ok for th US to have a civil war. but korea or anyone shouldn’t?

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Mar 28th 2018, 1:08 PM

    @Sean Conway: They did have one. 1950 to 1952. Read a history book.

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    Mute Adam Reid
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    Mar 28th 2018, 11:28 AM

    Another triumph for Trump.

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    Mute Liam Rogers
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:00 AM

    Its a good step forward

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    Mute Adrian
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:17 AM

    Funny how a guy that’s worshipped so much in North Korea is so scared that he has to take secret trips abroad. Thought he’d be a guy for full state honours when he travels abroad. But then the north Koreans probably don’t even know he’s gone!

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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Mar 28th 2018, 8:31 AM

    @Adrian: apparently he is afraid of flying.

    Perhaps not for the same reason that many people are.

    9
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    Mute Me_a_monkey
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    Mar 28th 2018, 9:10 AM

    @Adrian: probably so much secrecy because he’s scared of being assassinated or being kidnapped by the CIA.

    If either happened the country would deny it and his clone would take over!

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    Mute johnbunton
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    Mar 28th 2018, 12:09 PM

    I’d love to go for a pint him

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    Mute johnbunton
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    Mar 28th 2018, 12:09 PM

    @johnbunton: with him

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