Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has slammed the Irish Government for its input into the Secretary of State’s Talks at Stormont House, following what he calls a third gaffe by Irish Foreign Minister, Charlie Flanagan TD.

Mr Nesbitt said: “It is outrageous for Charlie Flanagan to claim this week that the Ulster Unionist Party refused to share the same room with him at the start of these Talks. It is outrageous, because it is not true.

“We were keen to get the government of the Republic of Ireland into the room because they have serious questions to answer about their role in the Troubles. For example, exactly what funding and which arms did former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey and other Irish Government Ministers supply to help form the Provisional IRA? And will they apologise for using the border as a political bargaining chip with the British Government, by operating a ‘porous border’ security policy with regard to the PIRA using the Republic as a sanctuary?

“The DUP did not attend the initial roundtable discussions, but the Ulster Unionists did, and for a specific, strategic reason. We wanted to hear the Secretary of State and the Irish Foreign Minister articulate an unequivocal commitment to conducting the Talks under the time-tested three-stranded approach, which denies the Republic any input into the internal affairs of Northern Ireland. That is exactly what Theresa Villiers and Charlie Flanagan promised, and that is what has been delivered over the last nine weeks.

“It is frustrating therefore that the Irish Government keep trying to give a different impression in the media. On day one, Mr Flanagan described himself as a co-convenor of the Talks. Not true! He is invited to attend only when we discuss matters of north-south and east-west relations. Then, ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, he told the media the Talks had made good progress on the Northern Ireland Executive’s Budget. He obviously has a source for that claim. He equally obviously needs to sack the source, it is very far from the truth.

“I seek good, friendly relations with our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland and under my Leadership have taken some bold steps to advance that aim. Sadly, the levels of trust and confidence the Ulster Unionist Party have in the Government of the Republic of Ireland have been damaged by these public statements, coupled with what I can only describe as an underwhelming appetite to step up to the plate to accept their responsibilities on the Past.

“This needs fixed. A good first step would be a public apology from the Foreign Minister for a public statement regarding the Ulster Unionist Party that has no foundation in the truth.”