David Ford MLA said: “Following the positive response to the Queen’s visit to Ireland in 2011 and her meeting with Martin McGuinness in 2012, this is a further sign of the progress that has been achieved in recent years.
“It is a further step forward in building more positive relationships between all the people in these islands.
“However, much more work must be done by Sinn Fein to improve community relations and to help resolve the legacy of past. Their recent opposition to placing community relations on a par with equality in the new Councils and their involvement in the ‘On The Runs’ scheme shows that they still have a long way to go.”
ENDS