DUP snubs Irish government invite

Mr Dodds described the initiative as a pointless committee

The DUP has rebuffed an invitation to take part in the Irish parliament's Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said his party would not be participating in what he called a "pointless committee".

Mr Dodds said the Belfast Agreement had been replaced "with a new fairer dispensation".

He said it was strange that the Irish Republic had appointed a committee to oversee its implementation.

Mr Dodds said that while good relations with Dublin were desirable, the Irish government should be under no illusions that the internal affairs of Northern Ireland were of no concern to them.

Mr Dodds said Stormont controlled north-south relations and that is where the focus of his party would be.

He added that that his party would not be squandering valuable time on a pointless committee.