Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

On a related matter, the Taoiseach has twice mentioned my non-attendance at events involving the Queen of England. While I respect his right to attend and that of the President to invite the Queen of England, I also have the right not to attend. While I represent a constituency in the State, I am from the North. County Mayo is no longer under the control of the English Crown. Where I come from is, even in a conditional way, covered by the new dispensation we have carved out. Rather than making snide remarks back and forth, the Taoiseach needs to remember that there are people in the North, sometimes referred to as Northern Nationalists, who are watching every single comma and dot. I hope there will be good will as a result of this visit, but while the country is partitioned, as it is-----

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