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Northern Prime Minister Arlene Foster has expressed frustration at Sinn Féin’s continued “lack of recognition” for the “damage” caused at the funeral of veteran Republican Bobby Storey.
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill was photographed in the crowd at the funeral in June despite restrictions on public gatherings as part of coronavirus regulations.
Ms. Foster and Ms. O’Neill have not appeared jointly with the media after an executive meeting since the dispute.
O’Neill said the couple continue to convey the same message even though they are not together.
Ms Foster said she wants to see an acknowledgment from Ms O’Neill and Sinn Féin of the “damage” caused to the public health messages that the Executive sends.
“It is very frustrating for me that we cannot come together and do that, but Storey’s funeral has had an impact on our ability to do that, I hope that people will stick with the message that we are trying to give them, albeit individually. “, said.
“I just feel that Sinn Féin and the Deputy Prime Minister need to acknowledge that harm has been done.
“If that recognition was there, I think we could go ahead and try to get the message across again. But, at the moment, it is not recognized that the trust has been damaged and the message has been damaged. “
Ms Foster said that there is a contrast between the attitude of Sinn Féin in the Republic of Ireland compared to Northern Ireland.
Irish Health Minister Dara Calleary and EU Commissioner Phil Hogan resigned after attending the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway last month.
“Sinn Féin put a lot of pressure on the Republic of Ireland for people to acknowledge that there were irregularities in relation to going to a golf dinner, but I think we all saw the scenes in West Belfast in relation to that funeral and the fact that that regulations and guidance were violated at that time, ”he said.
The Prime Minister added: “There are ongoing investigations at both the police and the Assembly level and we will have to see the outcome of all that.
“But I think it would help if it was recognized that trust and messaging in and around Covid-19 has been damaged.”
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