FIRST Minister Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein MLA Michelle Gildernew have disagreed at Stormont over the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. 
During Question Time last week the Democratic Unionist leader was asked by her fellow Fermanagh-south Tyrone representative about Brexit.
“What work is taking place to outline the impact of Brexit on Border communities such as those that are scattered right across my constituency? I can see no positive impact at all,” said Ms. Gildernew.
“Well, I can see plenty of positives,” replied Mrs. Foster. 
“The Member must not be engaging with the same communities that I am engaging with because they seem to be benefiting greatly at the moment from what happened on June 23, particularly in Enniskillen.”
Mrs. Foster said the Northern Ireland Executive is engaging in relation to the common travel area with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Prime Minister Theresa May. 
“Every one of us wants to see the common travel area sustained and maintained to make sure that there is ease of access, not just in relation to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but between Wales and the Republic of Ireland,” she said.
The result of the EU referendum drew fresh focus on the constitutional question. Republicans pointed to the 56 per cent in Northern Ireland that voted to Remain as significant in the context of the UK leaving an EU that would still count the Irish Republic as a member.
The topic of a united Ireland came up when Mrs. Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness attended the British Irish Council summit in Wales last week. Afterwards Mr. McGuinness said he would like to see a united Ireland “tomorrow morning.”
But he said he respected the terms of the peace agreement and noted that successive UK secretaries of state had made clear they “were not interested” in testing public opinion.
However, he again emphasised the EU vote, noting that the 56 per cent were made up of unionists and nationalists.
“The 56 per cent who saw their future in Europe voted to remain, that couldn’t have been achieved without the support of unionists, nationalists and republicans voting together to achieve that.”
Mrs. Foster said coverage around a potential referendum for a united Ireland were “non-stories.” “It won’t surprise you to know that I don’t want a united Ireland in the morning,” she said. With the meeting in Wales over it was on to China for Mrs. Foster on Sunday for a week long visit.
“Our relationship with China is very important,” she said. “This week’s visit underlines the continued commitment of the Northern Ireland Executive to engage with China, the world’s second largest economy. We may be a small country but we have a compelling proposition in terms of commerce, tourism, education and cultural opportunities.”