Mary Lou meets Mulvaney

Today a Sinn Féin delegation met with US Special Envoy Mick Mulvaney and Ambassador Crawford. The meeting covered a wide range of issues including Brexit and the threat of a hard border, the refusal of the British government to honor their agreements on legacy and the growing support for Irish Unity.

Following the meeting Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD called on the British Government to cease using the Good Friday Agreement as leverage in their negotiations with the EU, and to honour its international agreements.

Mary Lou McDonald said: “Mr Mulvaney's visit comes at a challenging time for our agreements, our economy and our citizens. The responsibility for this lies squarely at the feet of a British government that makes a virtue out of breaching agreements and breaking international law.

“Boris Johnson’s government has acted unilaterally and without consultation with the Irish Government and the majority of parties in the North.

“They are attempting to use the Good Friday Agreement as leverage in their negotiations with the EU. This is a highly cynical and divisive action.

Sinn Féin Senator Niall O'Donnghaile, U.S. Special Envoy Mick Mulvaney, Sinn Féin Rep to the U.S. Ciaran Quinn, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and Ambassador Crawford

“The US has an important role in safeguarding our agreements and protecting the peace and progress that has defined a generation.

“The British government must honor its agreements, cease using the Good Friday Agreement as a pawn, respect international law, and play a full part in progressing reconciliation and healing in the North.

“We hope that the US Administration, political representatives and Irish America will continue to stand on the side of our agreements, our economy and reconciliation between all our people.”