Northern Irish, Welsh, and Scottish leaders meet to discuss independence

Michelle O'Neill, leader of Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland; Rhun ap Iorweth, leader of Plaid Cymru in Wales; and John Swinney, leader of SNP in Scotland; signed an agreement in Cardiff on September 14. The agreement aims to put pressure on the Westminster government to hold referendums on independence.

Michelle O'Neill was also joined by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. The group met in their capacity as party leaders, rather than in their official governmental roles.

The leaders declared in the agreement that "Westminster's time is coming to an end."

The statement reads as follows:

"The political landscape across these islands is changing.

"For the first time ever, people across these islands have first ministers in Scotland, in Wales and in the North of Ireland who are all committed to independence from the United Kingdom.

"We believe there is a better way: nations working together as equals, sharing ideas and expertise, and building relationships based on mutual respect and common interests.

"Momentum is behind our movements; we believe that constitutional change is coming.

"We therefore commit to strengthening cooperation between our parties and identifying practical areas where working together can make a real difference."

The agreement comes days after President Donald Trump's repeated comments regarding the unification of the country during his trip to Ireland, where he attended the Irish Open at his golf course in Doonbeg, Co. Clare.

Speaking during a news conference with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Trump said that he would "love to see it unified."

"You know what? The way I look at it, it's going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now," he said.

"One thing is for sure,” one political insider told Hot Press. "Trump has no understanding of the complexity of the issue, or whether it can be approached in a way that does not give fresh life to Loyalist paramilitaries, and lead to the kind of violence brought to an end – more or less – by the Belfast agreement."

The Taoiseach addressed Trump's comments during the Today with David McCullagh show on RTÉ Radio 1. He explained that any time he has met with Trump they have discussed a united Ireland, Martin said he always explains the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement.

"And in my view, I would say, in terms of any future on the island of Ireland, it has to be founded under three sets of relationships that give rise to the Good Friday Agreement: the British-Irish; the North-South; and the two traditions within Northern Ireland. And whatever happens in terms of the future constitutional configuration, those elements would still have to be part of that, in my view," he explained.

Credit: Micheál Martin

During her meeting in Áras an Uachtaráin with President Trump on Saturday, President Catherine Connolly conveyed to Trump the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide cannot be accepted.

In a statement released following the visit, Connolly emphasised her position.

"As a country which has suffered famine, colonisation and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasised the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict.

"I highlighted to President Trump the strong commitment which the Irish people have to international relations, to the importance of the United Nations, including the pride which Irish people feel in Ireland’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping since 1958, and to the obligations contained within Article 29 of our Constitution towards the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

"I assured President Trump that the Irish people would strongly support all those who have the strength to build a shared peace in all those parts of the world currently suffering from such horrific war and violence."

Donald Trump and Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin. Credit: president.ie