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NORTHERN IRELAND’S DEPUTY First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has confirmed she will travel to Washington, DC next month for St Patrick’s Day.
It comes after First Minister Michelle O’Neill, in line with her Sinn Féin colleagues, said she will not attend the White House as part of “a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza”.
Earlier this month, Trump suggested Israel would turn Gaza over to the US for redevelopment into the “riviera of the Middle East”- involving a mass displacement of Palestinians from the territory.
The proposals were widely condemned and later comments from the administration sought to suggest the displacement would be voluntary and temporary.
Little-Pengelly said she would attend events but did not confirm if she will go to the White House.
The DUP politician told media at Parliament Buildings: “I intend to go to Washington next month. I think it’s an incredibly important time where Northern Ireland has, quite frankly, unprecedented access to the president of the United States, to the administration.
“Of course, we engage with the president’s office and we have a long and rewarding relationship with the US.
“It’s a very particular relationship, particularly in relation to foreign direct investment, on trade, in relation to our economy, so of course I will be there standing up for Northern Ireland, making sure that Northern Ireland’s voice is heard in DC that week.
“There is a number of events and I look forward to engaging positively with the administration.”
Asked whether she will meet US President Donald Trump, Little-Pengelly said: “I don’t know. The programme of events is still being worked through, but we know that there are a number of key events over the course of that week.
“It does represent unprecedented access and the opportunity for us in Northern Ireland to have that key role in DC right throughout that week.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has yet to receive a formal invitation to a bilateral meeting with Trump at the White House, but said he expects the meeting to go ahead.
Its leader Claire Hanna said the party could not “in good conscience” attend parties hosted in DC in the context of Trump’s actions.
Last year, O’Neill and Little-Pengelly were lauded in Washington as they travelled together to attend St Patrick’s Day events only weeks after the powersharing institutions at Stormont were restored.
-With additional reporting from Diarmuid Pepper
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Irish when it suits them and pro Israeli solely because Republicans came out as Pro Palestinian.
@Sean Higgins: They are 100% right for siding with Israel and not with the
antisemitic Irish govt.
@Sean Higgins:
Provo Sinn Fein, Irish when there’s cash to be made,
British when there’s Taxes to be payed.
@Johnny Wilson: yeah, the only way to fight terrorism is to slaughter women and children,oh and dont forget to bomb a few hospitals
@Billy Joe: or the fascist Israelis
@H Woo: or paid
@Thomas Devlin: you mean the tunnels where the co wards hide out
@Sean Higgins: Don’t be silly – didn’t the Unionists treat Catholics exactly the same way the Isrealis treated the Palestinians – as second class citizens in their OWN country ! It’s the Colonists mentality!
That Penjelly wan loves anything Orange!
@Lulu: like the incel thumb bum chums on here!
We here in Ireland and the EU need to become less dependent on the US ,They have showen they prefer the politics of division and hate , Over decency and integrity, And who wants to be in partnership with a country that elected the Crying lying orange thing twice.
@Robert Halvey: Read the usual bigoted comments on the DUP politician. When it comes to “division and hate” this country is top dog
@Robert Halvey: you have TDS get yourself some help.
@brendan C5: no just a bullxxxt detection ability that can see that the crying lying orange think ,has been playing the poorly educated US citizens like a cheap fiddle he’s whole life
God, they are really getting the z-listers over at this stage.
Classic DUP, had SF gone they’d be out!
DUD says…. Yes?
Trump couldn’t give a rat’s a$$ about any of them.
@Gerard Carey: Do you think they give a rats ass about him? They are just appeasing a bully for the sake of their country.
@Sean Hayes: Yeah ok. That’s a good one never thought of that.
@Gerard Carey: he doesn’t about anyone that isn’t of use to him, and the second they aren’t, they are out.
@Sean Hayes: Well at least they would know who he is.
@Sean Hayes: yeah like the brits did in 1939, remember peace in our time?
Next up after PM gets handed his a&@e
Trump has bigger fish to fry, sorting out Ukraine. As for Emma, I do like the cut of her jib.
@Dan Murphy: she’d probably step over us all in the street. But yeah, the cut of her jib, brilliant.
Ireland is such an embarrassment right now.
Why shouldn’t she go, good luck to her.
Can’t see Martin or Harris getting an invite. I can see the Unionist person getting a warm welcome at least there still Irish people even they considered themselves not Irish and want Northern Ireland to benefit but the southern part political parties are wedded to EU,Ukraine and other non Irish agendas.
Macron and the other adults discussing world politics with Trump. Ireland doing the catering with dried veg in a bowl. That bowel might come in handy though.
This is quite good. The politician who considers herself British goes abroad on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate being Irish, and the one who considers herself Irish stays at home. You couldn’t make it up!
Boylan got the boot, Lol.Seriously, Europe should not be visa free for Israel. Why are they treated different to others in the region. Let them apply to enter Europe like the rest.
Some are invited by University’s and other educational industry’s but on a political basis! NO ONE HAS BEING INVITED.
Does anyone care?
A good move by the DUP First Minister. At the end of the day there is ‘real politik.’ SFs move could potentially jeopardise inward investment in NI.
Another career politician that’s attempt to milk the spotlight. What is going on in recent weeks with all these politicians, both in Ireland and Northern Ireland, making out as if they can just show up without an official invitation? The only person who can issue an invitation to the White House for the St. Patrick’s Day event is President Trump. In any case, the DUP have gotten one over Sinn Fein. Michelle O’Neill ran her mouth and looked very unprofessional. Saying that you’re not going to something that you were never invited to is pretty laughable. Sinn Fein have always been about virtue-signalling and cheap political ploys over getting anything useful done for the people of Northern Ireland. Their support for terrorism and Hamas has always been disgusting.
H……unbelievable
No surprise there – Loyalists – they are fully supportive of Genocidal Isreal and Nethenahu in the slaughter of the Palestinian i their OWN land !! It’s the Colonists mentality. Exactly the same way the Unionists treated Catholics in the Occupied 6 Counties of Ireland – their OWN land !!
I wonder if she’s one of them Protestants agin the auld Gaelige. If she is it’s a bit Irish to be celebrating Lá ‘le Phádraig!
Well i think shes a rather attractive lady..Protestant or catholic i dont mind…i would date her..well as long as she pays half the bill which im sure she would.
have your say