Adams: We must build on meeting

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said the historic meeting between Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Martin McGuinness should be about more than novelty and symbolism.

Mr Adams said the importance of the handshake will be in how Anglo-Irish relations develop.

“What happened today is a very, very good thing indeed and again, I come back to it — will it be significant beyond the novelty or beyond the symbolism? That’s up to us,” he said.

Mr Adams, who announced plans for the meeting after a party discussion last Friday, said in Dublin that the meeting was a good day for Ireland and its people.

He added that it was important that the event is built on and is recognised as more than a simple gesture.

“I think the vast majority of unionists will be pleased that this happened because they know it’s essentially a real gesture beyond the rhetoric towards their sense of identity and their sense of allegiance,” he said.

The Co Louth TD said the Irish and British states’ journey was nowhere near completion and that more work needed to be done.

“There are issues yet that need to be brought to conclusion, specifically the issues of the legacy of the conflict. Both governments have a big role to play.”

Mr Adams said Ireland was changing thanks to the peace process, because of all the revelations of corruption in the Republic and in the wake of the unprecedented economic crisis.