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McGuinness defends border trade McGuinness defends border trade
(29 minutes later)
Martin McGuinness has launched a strong attack on politicians from the Republic who alleged people travelling north to shop were being "unpatriotic".Martin McGuinness has launched a strong attack on politicians from the Republic who alleged people travelling north to shop were being "unpatriotic".
The Deputy First Minister made the remarks as he arrived for a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Londonderry on Friday.The Deputy First Minister made the remarks as he arrived for a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Londonderry on Friday.
"I think it is very patriotic for anybody born on the island of Ireland to shop on the island of Ireland," he said."I think it is very patriotic for anybody born on the island of Ireland to shop on the island of Ireland," he said.
The meeting was at Magee College.The meeting was at Magee College.
Mr McGuinness said there were a number of "tremendous evils in our society, one is racism, the other is sectarianism and I think an evil also is partitionism".Mr McGuinness said there were a number of "tremendous evils in our society, one is racism, the other is sectarianism and I think an evil also is partitionism".
"What we need to recognise is that there is a free will of the people," he added."What we need to recognise is that there is a free will of the people," he added.
When Mr McGuinness' remarks were put to the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, he said cross-border shopping experienced "swings and roundabouts" and what was required was for the economies north and south to work together to tackle the economic downturn.
"We live in an island and people will make their choices," he said.
"The important thing is that we provide best possible value for money and deal with the cost issues that arise."
The North-South Ministerial Council was set up as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to increase cross-border co-operation on issues of mutual interest.The North-South Ministerial Council was set up as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to increase cross-border co-operation on issues of mutual interest.