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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Nicola Sturgeon to address Irish Parliament | Nicola Sturgeon to address Irish Parliament |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon will later become the first serving head of a foreign government to address the upper house of the Irish Parliament. | Nicola Sturgeon will later become the first serving head of a foreign government to address the upper house of the Irish Parliament. |
| The first minister is on a two-day visit to Ireland and hopes to strengthen links between Scotland and Ireland in the wake of the Brexit vote. | The first minister is on a two-day visit to Ireland and hopes to strengthen links between Scotland and Ireland in the wake of the Brexit vote. |
| On Monday she met President Michael D Higgins and foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan. | On Monday she met President Michael D Higgins and foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan. |
| It follows a meeting with Irish premier Enda Kenny last week. | It follows a meeting with Irish premier Enda Kenny last week. |
| In her address to the Irish Senate, Ms Sturgeon is expected to speak about Scotland's relationship with Ireland past, present and in the future - once the UK has left the European Union. | In her address to the Irish Senate, Ms Sturgeon is expected to speak about Scotland's relationship with Ireland past, present and in the future - once the UK has left the European Union. |
| Before that, in a speech to business leaders, she will say that Ireland has a "strong ally" in Scotland on "virtually every issue of substance". | Before that, in a speech to business leaders, she will say that Ireland has a "strong ally" in Scotland on "virtually every issue of substance". |
| Scotland's first minister is examining possible options for maintaining Scotland's links to the European single market - and has a shared interest with the Irish government in keeping the whole of the UK in the single market. | Scotland's first minister is examining possible options for maintaining Scotland's links to the European single market - and has a shared interest with the Irish government in keeping the whole of the UK in the single market. |
| She is due to attend a business breakfast with 120 chief executives, before addressing the upper house of the parliament. | She is due to attend a business breakfast with 120 chief executives, before addressing the upper house of the parliament. |
| Speaking at Trinity College Dublin on Monday, where she was awarded an honorary patronage from the university's Philosophical Society, Ms Sturgeon said Brexit could lead to Scottish independence. | Speaking at Trinity College Dublin on Monday, where she was awarded an honorary patronage from the university's Philosophical Society, Ms Sturgeon said Brexit could lead to Scottish independence. |
| The SNP leader warned the UK government that if it tries to drive Scotland off a "hard Brexit cliff edge" then Scots would have the right to "choose other alternatives". | |
| "I have always believed Scotland will become an independent country and I think it will become an independent country well within my lifetime - and this may be the moment for that," she said. | "I have always believed Scotland will become an independent country and I think it will become an independent country well within my lifetime - and this may be the moment for that," she said. |
| She also said a proposal to allow Britons to remain EU citizens after Brexit for a fee should not be ruled out. The suggestion of individual EU membership for the 48% who voted Remain merits discussion, she said. | She also said a proposal to allow Britons to remain EU citizens after Brexit for a fee should not be ruled out. The suggestion of individual EU membership for the 48% who voted Remain merits discussion, she said. |
| "We should be open-minded about solutions that can help, whether it is Scotland or individuals, who want to retain their citizenship, their relationship with the EU," she added. | "We should be open-minded about solutions that can help, whether it is Scotland or individuals, who want to retain their citizenship, their relationship with the EU," she added. |