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Covid-19: Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill in North South meeting Covid-19: Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill in North South meeting
(about 1 hour later)
Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill have appeared alongside each other in public ahead of a meeting of ministers from both sides of the Irish border. Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill are attending a cross-border meeting of ministers in Dublin.
The first and deputy first ministers have not appeared together since the row over the funeral of veteran republican Bobby Storey last month. It is the first time that the North South Ministerial Council has been held in more than three-and-a-half years.
They are attending a North South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin.
It is the first time the council has met in three-and-a-half years.
The cross-border body was not able to sit during the suspension of devolved government at Stormont.The cross-border body was not able to sit during the suspension of devolved government at Stormont.
Covid-19 and Brexit on agenda The first and deputy first ministers are expected to appear at a press conference later for the first time since Bobby Storey's funeral.
The meeting is taking place at Dublin Castle.
Friday's meeting at Dublin Castle is being attended by Stormont ministers and their Irish counterparts, including Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Mícheál Martin and Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar.Friday's meeting at Dublin Castle is being attended by Stormont ministers and their Irish counterparts, including Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Mícheál Martin and Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar.
It comes after a tumultuous first month in office for Mr Martin, who was elected taoiseach on the last Saturday of June as the head of a coalition that included his Fianna Fáil party, Fine Gael and the Greens.It comes after a tumultuous first month in office for Mr Martin, who was elected taoiseach on the last Saturday of June as the head of a coalition that included his Fianna Fáil party, Fine Gael and the Greens.
The agenda includes Brexit trade negotiations, response to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about international travel to the island.The agenda includes Brexit trade negotiations, response to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about international travel to the island.
The North South Ministerial meeting started with Arlene and Michelle offering the new coalition partners in the Republic advice on how to make power sharing work.
It got a good laugh, I am told.
There then followed a frank exchange of views on Brexit, discussed implications for businesses in Northern Ireland.
There were mixed views on the Irish protocol as expected and concern was expressed about putting it in place before the deadline at the end of the transition period.
The Republic of Ireland has a so-called "green list" of 15 nations, from which travellers entering the country do not have to self-isolate for 14 days, but Northern Ireland has a list of 58 such countries.The Republic of Ireland has a so-called "green list" of 15 nations, from which travellers entering the country do not have to self-isolate for 14 days, but Northern Ireland has a list of 58 such countries.
In the Dáil (Irish parliament) this week, Mr Martin said the Republic of Ireland had "much stricter" travel guidance than Northern Ireland.In the Dáil (Irish parliament) this week, Mr Martin said the Republic of Ireland had "much stricter" travel guidance than Northern Ireland.
"It is important to recognise the dangers travel can present in terms of creating spikes on the island of Ireland. We have to work towards a joint approach in relation to that," he added."It is important to recognise the dangers travel can present in terms of creating spikes on the island of Ireland. We have to work towards a joint approach in relation to that," he added.
The ministers are also expected to discuss infrastructure issues, including the Belfast-to-Dublin rail link.The ministers are also expected to discuss infrastructure issues, including the Belfast-to-Dublin rail link.
Foster and O'Neill set to share platformFoster and O'Neill set to share platform
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Mrs Foster is due to share a platform with Ms O'Neill, the Sinn Féin vice-president, during a press conference after the meeting.Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Mrs Foster is due to share a platform with Ms O'Neill, the Sinn Féin vice-president, during a press conference after the meeting.
They have not shared a platform since Ms O'Neill attended the funeral of Mr Storey on 30 June.They have not shared a platform since Ms O'Neill attended the funeral of Mr Storey on 30 June.
The north Belfast man was considered the head of intelligence of the IRA for a period from the mid-1990s and was named as such under parliamentary privilege.The north Belfast man was considered the head of intelligence of the IRA for a period from the mid-1990s and was named as such under parliamentary privilege.
Security sources linked him to several major incidents, including the £26m Northern Bank robbery in 2004.Security sources linked him to several major incidents, including the £26m Northern Bank robbery in 2004.
Ms O'Neill was among hundreds of mourners at the service in west Belfast in spite of restrictions on numbers of people allowed to gather together.Ms O'Neill was among hundreds of mourners at the service in west Belfast in spite of restrictions on numbers of people allowed to gather together.
Mrs Foster claimed that damaged Ms O'Neill's credibility in delivering public health messages about the pandemic.Mrs Foster claimed that damaged Ms O'Neill's credibility in delivering public health messages about the pandemic.
Ms O'Neill has stood by her decision to go to the funeral but did apologise to families bereaved during lockdown for any hurt caused by scenes of hundreds of people lining the route.Ms O'Neill has stood by her decision to go to the funeral but did apologise to families bereaved during lockdown for any hurt caused by scenes of hundreds of people lining the route.
The first minister said the apology fell short of what was needed to rebuild trust in the deputy first minister.The first minister said the apology fell short of what was needed to rebuild trust in the deputy first minister.
What is the North South Ministerial Council?What is the North South Ministerial Council?
It is one of the institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement, the peace accord that is widely seen as marking the effective end of Northern Ireland's Troubles.It is one of the institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement, the peace accord that is widely seen as marking the effective end of Northern Ireland's Troubles.
The council is the main body for cross-border co-operation between the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.The council is the main body for cross-border co-operation between the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
It is attended by ministers from both sides of the border who oversee joint working in areas such as trade, food safety and agriculture.It is attended by ministers from both sides of the border who oversee joint working in areas such as trade, food safety and agriculture.
It has not met since November 2016 because Northern Ireland's power-sharing government was suspended until January this year.It has not met since November 2016 because Northern Ireland's power-sharing government was suspended until January this year.