Raymond McCartney sees this week's events as a 'gigantic step towards unity'

Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has said in Derry Today that the return of powersharing to Stormont is a 'gigantic step' towards a united Ireland. He said it was a 'proud day' for republicans.

McCartney said he believed that his party’s goal of a united Ireland could be achieved through support for the Good Friday Agreement. 'This is all part of our long tern strategy in the peace process. As Tony Blair said in his speech alongside Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley, we have not deviated one inch from our Irish republican principles at any stage in this process. I see this as a gigantic step towards Irish unity. We are now in a position to being about changes. We will be able to build confidence through the Assembly and show unionists that they have nothing to fear. Unity makes sense in economic and infrastructural terms and we will be working to convince others of that,' he said.