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I'll never agree with Trump but I will engage on NI - O'Neill

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Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it was not about President Trump's personal views but "engaging with that office"

First Minister Michelle O'Neill says she will "never agree" with US President Donald Trump but will engage with him on economic issues of interest to Northern Ireland.

Trump's second term in office began on Monday, with Stormont's political parties divided on his return to front-line politics.

On Tuesday, the first and deputy first ministers said they had yet to receive an invite for St Patrick's Day events in Washington DC and would "judge it if and when" it comes.

It is custom for executive ministers to be invited and attend St Patrick's Day celebrations in the US.

If an invite is extended and accepted, it will be the first time that Stormont ministers have taken part in such events with President Trump in office.

Power sharing in Northern Ireland was suspended from 2017 until 2020 during Trump's first term in power.

O'Neill said Northern Ireland's relationship with successive US presidents had been "crucially important" for the peace process and the economy.

Little-Pengelly aiming for "constructive" relationship

"I will never agree with him, but where I will engage is in what's in our best interest, he is the people's choice, he is the president of the United States," O'Neill added.

"So when it comes to our engagement it will be on our interests on economic growth, investment and the peace process... beyond that I doubt I would share too much common ground with Donald Trump."

Emma Little-Pengelly, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) deputy first minister, said she wanted to focus on building a "constructive" relationship with the Trump administration.

"We work with the president no matter who that is, this is not about what his personal views may be but engaging with that office," she added.

"We've always had that constructive relationship with the US and hopefully we'll continue to do so."

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly say they will talk to Trump about NI's economic interests

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member, and Leader of the Opposition, Matthew O'Toole, said he had no issues with the executive engaging internationally but must uphold "a clear set of principles" on climate policy and human rights laws.

He said if the first and deputy first ministers are invited and attend events in Washington DC in March, the SDLP will seek to hold them to account.

"We won't be there clinking glasses, but if they do get an invite they need to set out how and why they're upholding a set of principles that the people of Northern Ireland expect them to."