Martin McGuinness to attend Irish Presidential state visit ceremonies in Britain

SINN FÉIN’S Martin McGuinness has accepted an invitation to attend the Windsor Castle banquet and several other events during the state visit of President Higgins to Britain next week hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

The decision was announced after a meeting of Sinn Féin’s National Officer Board in Dundalk on Saturday afternoon.

In a statement immediately afterwards, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD said:

“When the state visit of Úachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins to Britain was announced, I welcomed it in the context of building new relationships within Ireland and between these islands.

“The President’s visit must be viewed against the backdrop of the huge political changes that have taken place in recent years — changes in which Irish republicans have played a leadership role.

“Sinn Féin seeks a new and positive relationship between Ireland – all of Ireland – and Britain based on equality and mutual respect for the first time in our troubled history.

“We also seek an agreed, united Ireland which accommodates those who define themselves as British.”

The Sinn Féin leader said that is within this context that he was confirming that joint First Minister Martin McGuinness will accept an invitation to attend all events as part of the state visit.

Gerry Adams continued:

“This decision by a confident republican leadership is in keeping with the transition that is ongoing within the island of Ireland and between Ireland, including the North, and Britain.

“There is now a peaceful and democratic way to end the Union and partition. This is a work in progress and Sinn Féin accepts that there is an onus on us to persuade our unionist neighbours that their interests are best served in a new, agreed Ireland.

“While Martin McGuinness’s involvement in President Higgins’s state visit may not be welcome by opponents of change, it is yet another example of Sinn Féin’s commitment to an inclusive future based on tolerance and equality.

“This decision may cause difficulty for some Irish republicans in light of ongoing difficulties in the North but I would appeal to them to view this positively in the context of republican and democratic objectives and the interests of unity and peace on this island.”

Gerry Adams concluded that the real significance and value of President Higgins’s visit will only be realised if peace and the political processes are built upon by the Irish and British governments.

“That means implementing all outstanding elements of the Good Friday Agreement and other Agreements.”