Paisley's statement after Catholic Church meeting

The Reverend Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists today held groundbreaking talks with the Catholic Church at Stormont.

The following statement was issued by Mr Paisley:

“This was a meeting between the DUP, as the largest political party in Northern Ireland and a delegation led by Archbishop Brady from the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs.

“Our topics of discussion were social, economic and political.

“I welcome the opportunity that this meeting has provided.

“We have had a very good and useful exchange of views across a range of issues.

“It is in the interests of everyone to develop the foundations for stability and prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland.

“During our discussions we touched on a very wide range of subjects including the need to address issues of poverty and social need in our province; the necessity to build a strong local economy; the benefits that can be derived for the whole community from achieving stable devolutionary arrangements for Northern Ireland and developing support for law and order across the community.

“Today’s meeting is the latest in a series with Church leaders and civic society and we look forward to further discussions with Archbishop Brady and his colleagues in the coming months.”

The DUP delegation during the hour long meeting was headed by its leader Mr Paisley, its deputy leader Peter Robinson, North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds, East Derry MP Gregory Campbell, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson and Fermanagh and South Tyrone Assembly member Arlene Foster.

The party, which has already met with the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, confirmed it would be meeting other church leaders in the coming weeks.