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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ahern visit is new dawn - Paisley | Ahern visit is new dawn - Paisley |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ian Paisley has described Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's historic visit to his constituency of Ballymena as a "good day for Ireland". | Ian Paisley has described Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's historic visit to his constituency of Ballymena as a "good day for Ireland". |
| The first minister was speaking as he and Mr Ahern toured the Galgorm Resort Hotel and Spa where they discussed how to promote tourism in Ireland. | The first minister was speaking as he and Mr Ahern toured the Galgorm Resort Hotel and Spa where they discussed how to promote tourism in Ireland. |
| "It is a good day for the whole of Ireland because we need help from outside," Mr Paisley said. | "It is a good day for the whole of Ireland because we need help from outside," Mr Paisley said. |
| Mr Ahern said he was honoured to have visited Mr Paisley's heartland. | Mr Ahern said he was honoured to have visited Mr Paisley's heartland. |
| "I do not believe even a year back it could have been envisaged we would have been together here," Mr Ahern said. | "I do not believe even a year back it could have been envisaged we would have been together here," Mr Ahern said. |
| "It is an honour to be here with the first minister to talk about progress." | "It is an honour to be here with the first minister to talk about progress." |
| Mutual benefit | |
| Both men said it was important that the two parts of the island worked together for their mutual economic benefit. | Both men said it was important that the two parts of the island worked together for their mutual economic benefit. |
| "Guaranteeing investment and employment is a goal and objective we share and I do not think there is any sector of an economy that cannot grow and gain added value through cooperation," Mr Ahern said. | "Guaranteeing investment and employment is a goal and objective we share and I do not think there is any sector of an economy that cannot grow and gain added value through cooperation," Mr Ahern said. |
| Ruby Gillespie was escorted away from Baroness PaisleyEarlier, a small number of people held a protest during the tour. | |
| Town councillor Roy Gillespie, a former DUP member, unfurled a Union flag outside, while his wife, Ruby, was asked to leave the meeting after confronting Mr Paisley's wife, Eileen. | Town councillor Roy Gillespie, a former DUP member, unfurled a Union flag outside, while his wife, Ruby, was asked to leave the meeting after confronting Mr Paisley's wife, Eileen. |
| Mr Gillespie left the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Fein. | Mr Gillespie left the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Fein. |
| Last year, Mr Paisley and Mr Ahern visited the site of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne in County Meath. | Last year, Mr Paisley and Mr Ahern visited the site of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne in County Meath. |
| Mr Ahern and Mr Paisley agreed to the visit after talks in Dublin between the two men. | Mr Ahern and Mr Paisley agreed to the visit after talks in Dublin between the two men. |