Empey is taken aback by Trimble's comments

The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, said he was ‘‘taken aback’’ by Mr Trimble’s comments.

‘‘I certainly do not recognise the state I live in as described by him. I was taken aback by such intemperate words coming from a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

‘‘I know he is a politician and he has to look over his shoulder but it was still extraordinarily intemperate.

‘‘We are on the United Nations Security Council, we take an active role in Europe and I really cannot see how he could possibly call our country a pathetic little state.’’

He added: ‘‘Ireland is a very different place to the one he describes.’’