NI politicians praise the US president for “good engagement”

Donald Trump gained “great interest” in Northern Ireland during his engagement with Washington politicians, the Deputy First Minister said.

Like Emma Little Pengely and the region’s Gordon Lyons and Northern Ireland’s Parliamentary Speaker Edwin Poots, we met the US President at St. Patrick’s Day luncheon at Capitol Hill.

Little Pengelly said she and the president discussed “long-standing close relationships” between the two countries.

“It’s a good opportunity to speak for Northern Ireland… to make sure we’re part of the conversation this week,” she added.

Many politicians from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland traveled to the US capital for the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Speaking to BBC News Ni’s Good Morning Ulster program, the vice minister said the incident would allow Northern Ireland to “unparalleled access” to some of the world’s most influential leaders, including the president.

“We had a very good discussion with President Trump,” she said.

“We talked about our common desire to see peace in Ukraine, but of course we continued to talk about the long and long-standing close relationship we had with America for quite some time.

Little Pengely said the president briefly spoke about the “historical relationship” between the United States and NI, referring to Portrush, which will host one of golf’s most prestigious championships later this year.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US president said he was unaware that some political parties were boycotting St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House.

Some political parties — Sinfein, Social Democrats and Labour (SDLP), and the alliance — previously ruled out attending events surrounding the Trump administration’s stance on Gaza in Washington.

When asked about the boycott, Trump replied: “I’ve never heard of it. I’ve never heard it.”

Little Pengely “opposed” the boycott of Michelle O’Neill’s First Minister’s celebration, adding that he “was supposed to be here.”

“I’m sure Michelle O’Neill might oppose the fact that I’m here, but I’m representing the Northern Ireland government here. I’m representing the people of Northern Ireland here,” she told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster program.

“I am absolutely pleased with the decision to come here, and as I told you to show up, speak up and make sure you defend Northern Ireland on every occasion.

“That’s my role. I think that’s what Northern Ireland people expect from me.”

A Northern Ireland secretary in Washington for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration praised the “strong bond” between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States.

Hilary Ben said the United States is a country where “important measures” were built by people from Ireland.

“There’s a warmth that was evident in the special relationship and warmth that was revealed in the speech I heard from President Trump and Michael Martin,” he told BBC News NI.

“It’s a relationship that really affects over time, and it’s not just a celebration.”

Ben said Northern Ireland’s voice was “clear” to Washington, and his presence and the voice of his deputy minister was “clear.”

“My job as Secretary of State is to make sure that Northern Ireland’s voice, Northern Ireland’s interests, are heard in discussions between my representatives of the administration and many American companies that have already invested in Northern Ireland,” he added.

The NI Secretary said Northern Ireland’s access to both the UK and EU markets through the Windsor framework makes it attractive to American investors.

“My mission is to encourage people to come, see, see and believe. And the history of American investment in Northern Ireland is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very.”

Martin asked for his response to Trump, unaware that several political parties have decided to boycott the event. “I’m not going to comment on that.

“Please note that there was a strong presence in Northern Ireland at lunchtime. I saw Secretary of State Hilary Ben there,” he told reporters.

Taoiseach said issues of peace in the Middle East and Ukraine came up during the meeting, and Martin said lessons from Northern Ireland could be applied.

“He was interested in Northern Ireland in terms of peace there, and I talked about how things are held, and I talked about the importance of reconciliation and how reconciliation is an ongoing journey for all of us,” he told reporters after the White House meeting.

“We applied some of those lessons to Ukraine and the Middle East. So overall, it was very positive – I thought – engagement.”