Donegal Senator and Fianna Fáil candidate in the European Election, Niall Blaney, says the Fine Gael leader should pay more attention to Derry and Belfast than to Paris and Berlin.
Senator Blaney said it was gratuitously insulting for the Taoiseach Simon Harris to say people of his generation were ‘more familiar now with London and Berlin and Paris then they might be with Belfast or Derry.’
Senator Blaney said: “I couldn’t believe the Taoiseach actually said this. Has he learned nothing from the clangers of his predecessor? He owes an apology to Derry and Belfast with an admission that he got it badly wrong.
“A misstep of this magnitude doesn’t bode well for relationship building. Instead of Paris and Berlin, maybe it’s time Mr Harris got to know a little about the two main cities in the north.
“Considerable effort has been made by my party to work closely with parties across the border. We have seen great improvements in relationship building across all ten border counties, north and south. Trade is increasing as the border region gets on with the business of re-building and restoring confidence.
“If Mr Harris is genuinely interested in the work we are doing, I would be delighted to give him a detailed briefing and take him to meet real people who are striving to create a better tomorrow for our children without them having to leave their homes for London, Berlin and Paris.”
ENDS