Martin in North visit

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin is visiting the North later to see first-hand the problems leading some young people to turn to dissident republican activity.

Minister Martin will meet community relations groups in Lurgan before travelling onto Belfast for a number of political meetings.

The minister is to see for himself the problems affecting the Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan, where young men with nothing else to do are attracted to the message of dissident republicans.

He will meet with community relations practitioners and young people, saying he wants to see the efforts to promote reconciliation and peace building.

Later in Belfast Minister Martin will meet with the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Tom Elliot, for discussions on a range of issues.

He will also join Northern Secretary Owen Paterson to launch a book marking last year's 10th anniversary of the Patten report on policing.