00:06What do you make with the fact that the First Minister is boycotting these briefings and parties made that view
00:10today?
00:11Look, I think it's genuinely disappointing.
00:13Look, the reality is this, we are not being asked our view on military manoeuvres or tactics.
00:18That is not the role of these briefings.
00:20These briefings will give us an overview about what is happening in a military sense in the region
00:25to inform us about the impact of this conflict on the UK, on us here in Northern Ireland
00:31but in particular on those many thousands of people that are in the region
00:35who at the moment are very apprehensive.
00:37I have been contacted by many parents, family members from across Northern Ireland
00:41asking about the details of the registration schemes, what's happening, the likelihood of evacuation.
00:47They are very worried about their loved ones.
00:49Of course they would be if you are seeing scenes where there are missiles coming indiscriminately from Iran.
00:56Then of course you are going to be apprehensive about that.
00:58The UK's involvement at this stage is absolutely limited to defensive action.
01:03What we have seen is an Iranian regime that is heading back indiscriminately at all different places in the area.
01:10That is absolutely wrong.
01:12So look, you know, Iran has been the source of instability.
01:17They have been the source of supporting terror.
01:20I am absolutely baffled as to how anybody, how anybody in Northern Ireland, never mind in that assembly chamber,
01:26could be defending that regime, could be lamenting the fact that that regime has been targeted.
01:31But of course ultimately we want to see peace, we want to see negotiation and we want to see that
01:36stability.
01:37And of course I hope that the UK government continues to work hard to try to bring that about.
01:40Thank you and I hope you enjoyed the world.
01:41You
Comments