Taoiseach Micheal Martin is to meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson today [Friday, May 14] an Irish government spokesman has confirmed. The meeting between the two leaders, which was arranged some time ago, will take place at lunchtime at the Prime Minister s Chequers estate, just outside High Wycombe. The main reason for the meeting is to discuss the issues relating to Northern Ireland and the peace process. A spokesman said: An Taoiseach Micheal Martin will be hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson today [Friday, May 14]. The lunchtime meeting, which was scheduled some time ago, is expected to cover the response to Covid-19, a range of issues relevant to peace and stability in Northern Ireland and the broader British-Irish relationship.
The victims of the Ballymurphy shootings: (left to right top row) Joseph Corr, Danny Taggart, Eddie Doherty, Father Hugh Mullan, Frank Quinn, Paddy McCarthy, (left to right, bottom row) Joan Connolly, John McKerr, Noel Philips, John ON June 15, 2010, the new Prime Minister David Cameron stood up in the House of Commons to make a statement on the day of the publication of the Saville Inquiry report into Bloody Sunday. Sandwiched between George Osborne and Nick Clegg (those were the days of coalition government), Cameron made an unequivocal apology for the actions of the Parachute Regiment in Derry-Londonderry on January,30, 1972 when they opened fire on civil rights demonstrators, killing 13 people and injuring a further 15.
Boris Johnson and his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin discussed post-Brexit trade and the Ballymurphy massacre during a meeting at Chequers, No 10 said.
The two leaders had a working lunch at the PM s country retreat amid ongoing problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol set up in December s agreement with the EU.
Anger in unionist communities over the protocol has been building since the start of the year as it impacted on imports of food and other goods.
Last month violence spilled out across the region, particularly in Belfast, with people from both unionist and nationalist backgrounds taking part in riots.
Mr Johnson is also facing nationalist anger over the 1971 Ballymurphy massacre, in which 10 innocent civilians were killed by British Army soldiers.
LONDON: The government is “truly sorry” for the events in Ballymurphy 50 years ago, in which 10 innocent people were killed, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis,.
Brexit trade issues over goods moving between Britain and Ireland can be resolved, the Irish premier has insisted.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he assured Prime Minister Boris Johnson during their meeting on Friday that the European Union “wants to be constructive”.
The meeting at Chequers also saw the leaders discuss contentious issues around dealing with Northern Ireland’s troubled past.
Wide-ranging & constructive discussions with @BorisJohnson today on British-Irish relations, including the long struggle for justice by the Ballymurphy families.
We also reaffirmed both governments’ commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions. pic.twitter.com/RtNUXmVe8W
Mr Martin said the UK’s Brexit minister Lord Frost also attended his meeting with Mr Johnson.