FOLLOWING his visit to the Enniskillen Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Lakeland Forum, Prime Minister Boris Johnson sat down with DUP leader and First Minister, Arlene Foster, in what was a frank discussion over issues around Northern Ireland (NI), including the NI Protocol.

However, neither Deputy First Minister – Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill – or party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, or even Fermanagh South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew were present for Mr. Johnson’s visit.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter after Mr. Johnson’s flying visit to Fermanagh last Friday, Michelle Gildernew said: “As MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone, I was notified of Mr. Johnson’s visit to my constituency, [but] I was not invited to meet him.

“Our party President and Vice-President have for some time now been seeking a meeting with Boris Johnson.

“Sinn Féin have very substantial and important matters to discuss with him. His government has reneged on a number of commitments in the New Decade New Approach [deal] over this past year.

“We also want to discuss with him his reckless and partisan approach to the Protocol [issue].”

Mrs. Gildernew added that Sinn Féin has serious business to raise with the Prime Minnister, and the party will be reaching out to Downing Street again and seeking such a meeting without further delay.

The meeting between the First Minister and Prime Minister was held in the Forum, and when asked if the face-to-face meeting went against Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s rules on meetings in their buildings, a Council spokesperson said: “The Council was advised by the Northern Ireland Office of a VIP visit to the vaccination centre operating at Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, areas of which are operating under license by the WHSCT.

“Access to and movement within the building was in accordance with risk assessment procedures, and the Council advised the NIO of its requirements and its understanding of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Covid-19 regulations currently in place.

“The Council understands that the arrangements for the meeting referenced were put in place by the Prime Minister’s office, and would therefore suggest that any queries regarding this aspect of the visit should be posed to Downing Street.”