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THE LEADERS OF Sinn Féin and the DUP haven’t been invited to the White House for traditional St Patrick’s Day reception. Not yet, at least.
Mary Lou McDonald and, it’s understood, Arlene Foster have yet to receive an invite to this Thursday’s reception.
However, former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr have apparently been invited.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson confirmed that as things stand Adams has received an invite but McDonald has not.
“The issue of invites to the reception are a matter for the White House. We are awaiting to hear from them on the invite list and we expect to hear from them later in the week,” the party said in a statement.
It’s understood that the party is still hopeful that an invite may be extended.
A spokesperson for the DUP said that Arlene Foster will not be travelling to the US for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
“Mrs Foster has received a number of invitations to meet with key influencers in Washington and New York,” the spokesperson said. “She plans to fulfil these later in the year.
The DUP leader has asked deputy leader Nigel Dodds to attend a number of events Washington DC, including the Speaker’s Lunch, on behalf of the party.
Sinn Féin’s delegation to the US this week is three-strong, with McDonald joined by Adams and the party’s deputy leader Michelle O’Neill.
The leaders of both parties have traditionally been invited to the annual event each year since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 due to their role and participation in the peace process.
It’s believed that the lack of an invite for the two leaders this year may be related to the ongoing failure to return to power-sharing in the north.
The Northern Assembly at Stormont has been without a functioning executive since January of 2017.
McDonald officially took over from Adams last month, bringing a curtain down on his 35-year tenure as president.
With reporting by Christina Finn
TheJournal.ie’s political reporter Christina Finn will be bringing you all the latest updates from Leo Varadkar’s visit to Washington this week, including his meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday.
Stay up-to-date by following @ChristinaFinn8, @TJ_Politics and TheJournal.ie’s Facebook page.
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In fairness I thought he would have got longer since the other US guy got 15 years hard labour for trying to steal something of a wall. Thought spying was basicly a death sentence there
I think they have been looking at the irish model for sentencing. Go easy on criminals.
Ten years hard labour, Hell be ripped when he gets out
North Korean answer to operation transformation
I cant wait to see their version of Pop Idol
Not when you are consuming 1000 calories a day. If he survives which is doubtful he will be permanently besought with illness.
Could be worse. He could be in Guantanemo having to listen to Hozier and Glen Hansard on permanent repeat
He won’t get out Anton its a death sentance for a young man let alone a 62 year old.
Peculiar to read the comments here, like NK has any form of independent judiciary. It’s basically a cult death camp – that i take from the BBC’s undercover documentary. Apologists for the regime or U.S. haters – post elsewhere. The Chinese use NK as a proxy for their militarism
How about the 10 North Korean women who are on hunger strike in Seoul after being kidnapped by the south? If the shoe was on the other foot we wouldn’t be hearing the end of it.
Not a country to go on holidays to.
The anti-aircraft weapons are being serviced,he got lucky the poor divil.
Not even ISIS would risk a visit to north korea.
Another North Koran joke, kangaroo courts, starving people, and a big fat shitebag for a so called leader welcome to 2016 current affairs
Great hats !
Not sure what the details on the Korean is but the American was a idiot. Stole a proganda poster for some fraternity for the laugh
I honestly don’t know why anyone would go there considering the risks involved. If you go there you will be considered a spy. So don’t go….. unless you are a spy… in which case accept the punishment.
Same sentence here if you criticise dob
Religion hasn’t dissappeared from NK in fact Kim is almost likened to Jesus.
Could we accidentally slip a few of our criminals over their border?
It’s a toss up for the holidays this year. North Korea or Syria ??
They do that all the time in North Korea.
Dublin theatres speak posh English accents which disappeared 100 years ago.
(Orangemen think that the English wear Bowler hats),
Cal…im not sure thats what caused the deaths of 800k Tutsis in Rwanda 22 years ago.
Hi Peter.
I’d like to respond but I’ve just been sent on a short journal indoctrination crash course on ideological boundary controls.
Get back to you as soon as I’m sorted.
Thanks.
Cal….very funny..i like that.
The guy with the walled garden is laughing his ass off
N. Korea bull, as evil states need evil enemies in order to excuse the evil they do themselves.
“US spy chief”? Is this game of thrones?
have your say