Micheál Martin presser after Trump visit
by Jolyon: Donald Trump
President Trump told reporters in Dublin he would love to see Ireland unified and suggested it may as well happen now. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin responded by saying he believes in Irish unity, noting that many parties in the Republic do too, while also affirming support for the Good Friday Agreement. He rejected the failed old approach of talking only to ourselves, insisting advocates must be persuaders for unity instead. Writer Jamie argues Trump should focus on unifying his own party and country before commenting on Ireland, pointing out that the nation has been doing just fine over the last few years.
Transcript (en)
So, you get my point, that is his consistent view, he believes that. And people are entitled to have a view and opinion of course, and I believe in Irish unity. Many political parties in the Republic believe in Irish unity. But we also of course believe in the Good Friday Agreement and how we got there, and we learned a lot in that process. And what I don't want to do is to go back to the failed sort of approaches historically, where we end up talking to ourselves, whereas in reality we have to be persuaders as well for Irish unity.
