Prime Minister Theresa May has arrived in Fermanagh to visit the Border as a part of a two day trip to Northern Ireland.

This is Mrs. May’s first visit to the Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the cause of much debate in the current, contentious Brexit negotiations.

It’s understood that Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster whose party props up Mrs. May’s government invited the prime minister to the county to talk to people about Brexit.

In a visit with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mrs. May will meet with businesses to listen to their views on what working, living and trading across the Border means to them.

She will deliver a speech on Friday in Belfast, which Downing Street says will emphasise her personal commitment to the strength of the UK’s four nations and the solutions set out in the White Paper that address Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.

On restoring devolved Government to Northern Ireland, Mrs. May is expected to meet with political parties on working together towards this goal for the benefit of all communities.

In a statement issued to this newspaper, Mrs. May said: “I look forward to hearing views from businesses on the Border in Northern Ireland on our departure from the European Union.

 “I fully recognise how their livelihoods, families and friends rely on the ability to move freely across the Border to trade, live and work on a daily basis.

“That’s why we have ruled out any kind of hard Border. Daily journeys will continue to be seamless and there will be no checks or infrastructure at the Border to get in the way of this.

 “I’ve also been clear we will not accept the imposition of any Border down the Irish Sea and we will preserve the integrity of the UK’s internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it.

“From the start of the negotiations, the UK Government has put Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances at the heart of our negotiations. And nothing will undermine our commitment to protecting the Belfast Agreement.”

On restoring devolved Government to Northern Ireland, Mrs. May is expected to meet with political parties on working together towards this goal for the benefit of all communities.

Mrs Foster said: “This visit will enable Mrs. May to speak with people who live, work and travel across the much talked about Irish border on a daily basis. 

“She will hear first hand examples of how people see both challenges and opportunities for their sectors as we leave the European Union.”

Commenting Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew said: “ “Theresa May is in Fermanagh today where I am sure she will hear what she wants to hear from the DUP leadership.

“However, if the British Prime Minister wants to get a real understanding of the impact of her government’s policies then she should meet with representatives of the people that her government has abandoned in its toxic pact with the DUP.”