Donald Trump's comment on Irish merger was 'just banter', says North's deputy first minister

'It’s absolutely just a bit of banter, anybody who watches his speeches knows that he highlights people in the room and has a bit of banter with them'

President Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrocks during a S. Patrick's Day event in the East Room of the White House. Picture: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

US president Donald Trump’s suggestion of an Irish merger was “just banter”, Northern Ireland deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said.

It came at the start of the president’s address to the annual Speakers’ Friends of Ireland Luncheon at Capitol Hill on Tuesday.