Derry Mayor to invite Simon Harris to visit after 'more familiar with Berlin and Paris' remarks

Taoiseach Simon Harris is to be invited to Derry by the city's Mayor after he claimed people of his generation are more familiar with Berlin and Paris than Belfast and Derry.

Councillors lambasted the newly-appointed Taoiseach as “out of touch” and called for the establishment of a Citizen’s Assembly on Irish Unity.

Speaking at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in his home constituency of Wicklow last week, Mr Harris said “we really have to challenge ourselves” to build relationships on the island.

He added: “Probably people of my generation are familiar now with London, and Berlin, and Paris than they might be with Belfast or Derry."

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At a council meeting this week, his comments were described as "highly offensive" by Derry and Strabane Mayor Patricia Logue and "out of touch" by her Sinn Fein colleague Paul Boggs.

The Mayor said: "I just want to invite the new Taoiseach up given the comments that he made which were highly offensive to many, many people on this island, regarding his generation being more familiar with Berlin and Paris, or even London, than Derry or Belfast.

"I think it would be right and fitting to offer him an invite up to Derry so that he can familiarise himself with this part of the country."

Councillor Paul Boggs proposed that the council writes to Mr Harris, asking that he establish an assembly “as a matter of urgency”.

“Young people on this island are leaving in droves to seek better opportunities elsewhere,” Councillor Boggs said. “And the harsh reality of the negative impact of partition has caused horror for public services.

“Many languish on hospital waiting lists, people have to live in the box room of their parents’ house, and opportunities to thrive are few and far between.

“Simon Harris is out of touch with young people on this Island and our desire for real change and a new Ireland.

“A citizens’ Assembly will allow for planning and discussion on a new Ireland to ensure this place flourishes and is a place where people have the opportunity to stay, to live, and to thrive.”

People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin was in favour of the Assembly and a “united socialist Ireland”, and said Mr Harris’ comments were “absolutely disgraceful”.

“But I wasn’t surprised,” Councillor Harkin added. “This is Fine Gael, a party which, alongside Fianna Fáil, has done tremendous damage to working class people for decades,” he claimed, adding: “I hope in the next round of elections we see them both kicked out.

“They’ve had a hundred years of rule. The former Taoiseach’s legacy is a legacy of a housing crisis and impoverishment,” he claimed.

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said he was in favour of a new Citizen’s Assembly to “talk about the reunification of the country”.

Councillor Tierney said he recently attended a meeting with Taoiseach Office representatives, who said the new Taoiseach was “well aware of the shared island and its benefits”.

“It’s a shame he’s not aware of what sharing the island actually means,” he said. “And I think the remarks are completely out of touch”.

UUP Alderman Derek Hussey argued that Mr Harris had “hit the nail on the head” with his comments.

“I’m speaking from the concept of a 24-year-old and a 21-year-old in my house,” Alderman Hussey concluded. “And his comments are absolutely on the mark.”

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