07/03/2011

Queen's Republic Visit Welcomed

DUP Leader and the North's First Minister Peter Robinson, has welcomed the announcement that Her Majesty The Queen is to visit the Republic of Ireland.

"The news of a visit by Her Majesty to the Irish Republic will be welcomed by all right-thinking people throughout the United Kingdom and that country as a positive development.

"It is a sign of the normalisation of relations between our two countries that such a visit by our Head of State will be taking place. I would urge Republicans to afford Her Majesty the same degree of respect shown by people in the United Kingdom to Mary McAleese.

"It is not necessary to agree with the institution of monarchy to show respect, just as I have with the elected president of the Republic of Ireland," he said.

"I have no doubt that the Irish people will warmly welcome our sovereign to their country who has through her long and devoted public service been an excellent ambassador for the United Kingdom," said the First Minister.

Alliance Leader David Ford has welcomed the announcement that the Queen is going to visit Ireland this year. "I wholeheartedly welcome the announcement from President McAleese that the Queen is to visit Ireland. This is a further and extremely significant step forward in building positive relationships between all the people of these islands," he said.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has commented that the visit is "premature" while the Dublin Government welcomed the acceptance by Queen Elizabeth of an invitation by President McAleese which they said will mark a further improvement in the very good relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny said today: "I welcome the confirmation that Queen Elizabeth II has accepted the President's invitation to visit Ireland.

"I look forward to this historic visit, one which will be warmly welcomed by the vast majority of the people of Ireland."

The dates of the visit and the programme will be announced jointly by Áras an Uachtaráin and Buckingham Palace in due course.

(BMcC)

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