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Ministers meeting president of EC Ministers meeting president of EC
(about 1 hour later)
The first and deputy first ministers in waiting are having a working lunch with the European Union's top diplomat Jose Manuel Barroso at Stormont.The first and deputy first ministers in waiting are having a working lunch with the European Union's top diplomat Jose Manuel Barroso at Stormont.
It will be Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness's first joint public engagement.It will be Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness's first joint public engagement.
Mr Barroso is also meeting Secretary of State Peter Hain and Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern.Mr Barroso is also meeting Secretary of State Peter Hain and Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern.
On Monday night, Mr Paisley said he will not shake hands with Mr McGuinness when they are sworn into their jobs.On Monday night, Mr Paisley said he will not shake hands with Mr McGuinness when they are sworn into their jobs.
The pair will take up their new roles on 8 May when the new power-sharing executive is formed.The pair will take up their new roles on 8 May when the new power-sharing executive is formed.
Mr Barroso, the president of the European Commission, is visiting Northern Ireland on his way back from an EU-US summit in the United States.Mr Barroso, the president of the European Commission, is visiting Northern Ireland on his way back from an EU-US summit in the United States.
This visit is being seen as the European Union's way of signalling its backing for the new executive.This visit is being seen as the European Union's way of signalling its backing for the new executive.
Speaking after he met with Mr Hain and Mr Ahern, Mr Barroso said the EU would continue to be supportive of political development in Northern Ireland.
"I think there is a lot of symbolism in this because the message I want to bring to the citizens of Northern Ireland is that precisely we are following with great admiration, great respect very important political transformations here.
"This message I bring on behalf of the European Commission and I can say on behalf of the European Union," he said.
Ian Paisley won't shake hands with Martin McGuinness at ceremonyIan Paisley won't shake hands with Martin McGuinness at ceremony
The EU commission is on the verge of approving a further £600m in financial support for Northern Ireland and the Republic's border counties.The EU commission is on the verge of approving a further £600m in financial support for Northern Ireland and the Republic's border counties.
However, the Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson and the independent unionist MEP Jim Allister have both protested about being left out of the arrangements for this visit, which they believe is a breach of the usual protocol.However, the Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson and the independent unionist MEP Jim Allister have both protested about being left out of the arrangements for this visit, which they believe is a breach of the usual protocol.
HandshakeHandshake
Speaking about the handshake, Mr Paisley told BBC NI's Spotlight programme: "It's not handshaking we want, it's decision-making we want.Speaking about the handshake, Mr Paisley told BBC NI's Spotlight programme: "It's not handshaking we want, it's decision-making we want.
"It's not acting like two actors to impress people, the people are looking for results."It's not acting like two actors to impress people, the people are looking for results.
"We could shake hands 24 hours a day, but if we don't get this province of ours into a ship-shape economic condition what good's the handshaking?""We could shake hands 24 hours a day, but if we don't get this province of ours into a ship-shape economic condition what good's the handshaking?"