Pope may visit Ireland by 2012: McGuinness

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said the Pope could visit Ireland by 2012.

Sinn Féin's Mr McGuinness says he had "some grounds" for making the prediction when quizzed about Pope Benedict's state visit to Britain.

Mr McGuinness was speaking before a committee at the Stormont Assembly where he was challenged over his failure to take part in the Scottish leg of the Pontiff's recent trip.

Mr McGuinness said the trip was a British state visit and that he would instead be pleased to meet the Pope when he visited Ireland.