Statement by Ian Paisley, after a meeting between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and a delegation led by Archbishop Séan Brady (9 October 2006)

Statement by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), after a meeting between the DUP and a delegation from the Northern Ireland Catholic Council for Social Affairs (NICCOSA), led by Archbishop Séan Brady, then Archbishop of Armagh and Catholic Primate of All-Ireland, (9 October 2006)

"This is a meeting between the DUP, as the largest political party in Northern Ireland and a delegation led by Archbishop Brady from the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs. Our topics of discussion were social, economic and political.

I welcome the opportunity that this meeting has provided. We have had a very good and useful exchange of views across a range of issues. It is in the interests of everyone to develop the foundations for stability and prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland.

During our discussions we touched on a very wide range of subjects including; the need to address issues of poverty and social need in our Province; the necessity to build a strong local economy; the benefits that can be derived for the whole community from achieving stable devolutionary arrangements for Northern Ireland and developing support for law and order across the community.

Today's meeting is the latest in a series with church leaders and civic society and we look forward to further discussions with Archbishop Brady and his colleagues in the coming months."

Notes

1. The DUP delegation comprised Dr Paisley MP, MLA, Deputy Leader Peter Robinson MP, MLA, Nigel Dodds MP, MLA and Gregory Campbell MP, MLA, Jeffrey Donaldson MP, MLA and Arlene Foster MLA.

2. The meeting was held in Parliament Buildings, Stormont and lasted almost two hours.

3. The party has already met with the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church and will be meeting with other church leaders in the coming weeks.