NI 100: Micheál Martin defends NI centenary service attendance

The service is due to be held in St Patrick's Church of Ireland cathedral in Armagh on 21 October

Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin has defended his government's decision to send representatives to a centenary church service in Armagh even though the Irish president turned it down.

Speaking during a visit to Belfast, Mr Martin said that, as head of state, President Higgins had a "different perspective" on the event.

"We fully support the decision of the president," he said.

Earlier, Sinn Féin said the Irish government made "the wrong call".

But the taoiseach accused the party of not taking a consistent approach to the centenary, having attended an event organised three weeks ago in Belfast by the Presbyterian Church.

He added: "I would ask at this stage that people should not seek to exploit the situation for political gain, we need to move on in terms of collectively working together."

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is meeting political leaders in Belfast on Friday

Irish President Michael D Higgins said that the service in Armagh, which is timed to coincide with the centenary of the formation of Northern Ireland in 1921, had become politicised.

The SDLP has said it will be attending, while Sinn Féin confirmed it would not.

The service will be held at St Patrick's Church of Ireland cathedral on 21 October.

It is being described as a service of reflection and hope, to mark the centenary of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland.

Last month, Catholic and Protestant church leaders said they had been saddened by "the polarised political commentary" around the service they organised.

President Michael D Higgins declined an invitation to the event

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney and government chief whip Jack Chambers will be present at the event.

Speaking ahead of meeting, Mr Martin on Friday, Sinn Féin deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill said: "I think it's the wrong call.

"I think that we all know the sensitivities around the decade of centenaries and that those things need to be handled sensitively.

"But when it comes to the issue of partition, it's a catastrophe. It's failing people.

"It's actually very current, and it impacts people's lives here today and has been detrimental to relationships on this island and across these islands."

Also on Friday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson welcomed the decision by the Irish government.

But he added that he still very much regretted President Higgins' decision not to attend.

• Irish president defends turning down centenary event

• Church leaders hope for 'healing' centenary events

• DUP asks Higgins to rethink centenary invite

In a statement on Thursday evening, the Irish government said in considering the invitation "its role in this matter is clearly distinct from that of the president".

Simon Coveney is Ireland's foreign minister

A decision has yet to be taken by the SDLP as to who will attend the service.

Its leader Colum Eastwood said: "Given the choice between remaining in the trenches of the last 100 years or reaching out to build a new future, I know which side I want to be on."

The British and Irish heads of state, the Queen and President Higgins, were both invited.

Those invited to the service have been asked to reply by 13 October.