The North’s First and Deputy First Ministers have said they look forward to a positive relationship with the new Taoiseach following their first conversations with him since his appointment. Both Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill congratulated Micheál Martin during phone calls on Monday. Speaking at the Northern Executive’s media briefing on Monday, Ms Foster said she “looked forward to working with him on matters of mutual concern for both of our jurisdictions”. “He is our nearest neighbour and it’s important that we have a good conversation and a good relationship so [we] very much look forward to that,” Ms Foster said. Asked by The Irish Times about the lack of a northern or a unionist appointment by the new Taoiseach to the Seanad, Ms O’Neill said it was “very unfortunate”.

Source: The Irish Times June 29, 2020 20:03 UTC