Mayo Minister welcomes Trump's united Ireland remarks - but warns it "won't happen overnight"

MINISTER for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary has said he welcomes Donald Trump's comments backing a united Ireland, but cautioned that unity "is not going to happen overnight" or "at the click of the fingers."

Minister Calleary was speaking at the opening of a social housing development in Swinford this morning, where he and Minister for Housing James Browne were asked for their reaction to the US President's remarks.

"I welcome the President's endorsement of it.

It's something that we're very committed to as a party," Minister Calleary said.

"In fairness to the Taoiseach, he is doing more to bring people together, bring communities together through the shared island initiative and through dealing with legacy.

This is not going to happen overnight. This is not going to happen at the click of the fingers, and ultimately the people of this island will determine our destiny.

But in fairness to the Taoiseach, he has led in terms of policy, but he's also led in terms of practical action."

Minister Browne was also asked whether it was "shocking" that the US President appeared more supportive of Irish unity than the leader of his own party, Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

The question came against the backdrop of Fianna Fáil's centenary dinner at the Grand National Hotel in Ballina on Saturday night.

"President Trump's obviously entitled to make his own comments, but I think the Taoiseach's record stands for itself in terms of his republicanism," Minister Browne said.

"Look, the people of Ireland, the people of this island will decide the future of this island. That's what the Good Friday Agreement is all about. Those mechanisms are there in place and that's what we support."

President Trump made the comments while in Dublin over the weekend, attending the Irish Open at his own Doonbeg resort.

Sitting alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Trump said he would "love" to see Ireland unified with Northern Ireland, adding that "it's going to happen eventually."

Speaking at a meeting with Mr. Martin, Trump said: "The way I look at it, it's going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now."

Trump stood by the comments the following day, telling reporters he believed putting Northern Ireland and Ireland together was "one of the naturals of all time."