Little-Pengelly: Focus on president's office, not 'personal views'

The Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said she engages "with the office of [the US] president" rather than his "particular personal views".

Little-Pengelly, as well as Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots, met US President Donald Trump during a St Patrick's Day luncheon on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

She insisted that her role was to "champion Northern Ireland" and "engage with the democratically-elected president".

In response to a question about the President Trump's admiration for Conor McGregor, Little-Pengelly said she has "been very clear" that she wants to make ending violence against women and girls a "key priority".

Some political parties - Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Alliance - previously ruled out attending events in Washington over the Trump administration's stance on Gaza.

When asked about the boycotts, Trump said: "I haven't heard that, I really haven't heard that."

Little-Pengelly said she "disagreed" with First Minister Michelle O'Neill's boycott of the celebrations, adding she "should have been here".

Little-Pengelly met President Trump at Washington's Capitol Hill on Wednesday

Speaking to BBC's The View presenter Mark Carruthers in Washington DC, Little-Pengelly said: "We engage with the office of president, we don't engage with people on the basis of their particular personal views or political opinions."

"Regardless of what you think of President Trump, this is a president with the ability to make decisions that will have a big impact on Northern Ireland," she added.

When asked if she should separate the man from the office, she answered: "Of course, I think we have to."

Little-Pengelly said when meeting a foreign leader, it is not about agreeing with their "political agenda or personal opinions".

She added if leaders enter the "territory in terms of judging people" on their personal opinions or political agenda, "there would be very few people we would engage with".

Conor McGregor is one of the biggest Irish sports stars and has a global profile

On Thursday, Little-Pengelly was asked on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme whether the president's comments about Conor McGregor made her uncomfortable as someone who has campaigned against misogyny and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Last November, McGregor was ordered to pay more than €248,000 (£206,000) in damages after a jury found he had sexually assaulted Nikita Hand.

"We have campaigned incredibly hard in Northern Ireland in terms of the ending violence against women and girls strategy. I take an absolutely clear-cut stance that all VAWG is wrong," she said.

NI should be 'realistic' about tariffs

When asked on the prospect of US import taxes on steel and aluminium, the deputy first minister said Northern Ireland should be "realistic" about the situation.

"Northern Ireland is a wee small place in the world... That's why it is important for us to be here.

"I'm concerned there is that risk there. That is why this week has been beneficial.

"Can we absolutely dictate the outcome of this? No. What we can try and do is make sure that people with influence over key decision makers and policy makers are aware of this issue."

She urged the UK government to "step up urgently" on the matter.

'Special status'

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said Northern Ireland's inclusion in the event was "significant"

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is to be included in a special international commemoration event at Mount Vernon next year.

It will form a major part of the 250th anniversary of American independence, where immigrants from Northern Ireland played a vital role in the birth of the United States.

One notable person from this period was John Dunlap, who printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence. He was born in Strabane in 1747.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said he had a meeting with the America 250 Commission and the granting of "special status" to Northern Ireland for the role they played in the early years of the US was significant.

Lyons said: "Our story and the heritage we share with the US is a history worth telling. Our connections, make Northern Ireland, a deeply resonant tourist destination for many Americans wishing to learn more about their Ulster Scots roots."

Lyons said the event was important and would put Northern Ireland "front and centre".

"It's been about putting Northern Ireland on the world stage and letting people know who we are and what we're about," he told BBC's Nolan Show.

The announcement comes after a £750,000 funding boost for the Ulster American Folk Park in County Tyrone.