Simon Harris has said he was 'irritated' his remarks about Northern Ireland were not taken in their "full context".  

In a speech yesterday at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, the Taoiseach described himself as from a generation of people in the Republic who are “more familiar now with London and Berlin and Paris than they might be with Belfast or Derry.” 

He said it is important to “challenge ourselves” and urged people to think how we can “get to know each other better”. 

In response, Sinn Féin labelled his remarks “clumsy and ill-informed”. 

I asked the Taoiseach Simon Harris on his comments that people of his 'generation' are 'more familiar' with Berlin and Paris than they are with Belfast or Derry in the North being widely criticised on social media.

He says he was a bit taken aback by the reaction “I think the…

— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) April 16, 2024

Speaking to journalists this morning ahead of a Cabinet meeting, Mr Harris said he hoped as Taoiseach his opinions would occasionally “spark a useful conversation”. 

“I think the point I made was somewhat logical,” he said. 

“You don’t unite an island without uniting a people and without people getting to know each other better. 

“The facts back up my argument - that's the reality.” 

Graffiti reading 'No Irish Sea border' near Belfast City centre in February 2021. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Harris also reiterated his point that more needs to be done on a North-South basis. 

“We need to cooperate more, we need to have more education on an all-island basis, more healthcare,” he said. 

“I would have thought, if people were being a little less partisan, a little less tribal, a little more constructive, I would have thought that’s something we can all agree with. 

“Whether you wish to talk about a shared island, whether you wish to talk about a united Ireland, the reality of the situation is we need to get to know each other better.” 

A sign at the Irish border in April 2019. Picture by: Stephen Barnes/Northern Ireland / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Harris described the Good Friday Agreement as “one of the most successful peace processes in the world” - but said the island of Ireland has yet to see “the full benefits of prosperity” following the end of the Troubles. 

“So, if anybody thinks the job is done in terms of getting people to know each other better and a better understanding of people on the island from a whole variety of traditions, I think if people think that job is done, I think that view is misplaced,” he said. 

Before his appointment as Taoiseach, Mr Harris described Irish unity as a “legitimate aspiration” but “not a priority”. 

Main image: Simon Harris. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie