Donald Trump does not have the 'skill set' to help bring peace to Northern Ireland, Irish premier says

Leo Varadkar says US President's 'I win and you lose' approach is 'not going to work' when it comes to resolving Stormont stalemate

Leo Varadkar said Donald Trump's aggressive approach to deal-making is not what is needed in Northern Ireland (Getty Images)

Donald Trump’s negotiating skills will not be helpful in resolving the political crisis in Northern Ireland, the Irish premier has said.

Leo Varadkar said he did not believe the US President had the “skill set” to help mediate the situation, which has left Northern Ireland without a government since last January.

Power-sharing at the Stormont assembly collapsed amid a fierce row between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein over a controversial green energy scheme.

Previous US presidents have played a key role in bringing different parties together, using the USA’s historic links with Ireland to play a mediating role.

In particular, Bill Clinton was credited with having a pivotal role in negotiations during the 1990s in the lead-up to the Good Friday Agreement.

However, Mr Varadkar said he did not expect Mr Trump to follow suit, despite the Republican having written an entire book, titled ‘The Art of the Deal’, on deal making.

He said: "I have read The Art of the Deal and the basic concept behind that is 'a good deal is when I win and you lose'. That's not the kind of deal that is going to work in Northern Ireland."

"So while President Trump has many enormous talents and abilities, I don't think bringing about peace in Northern Ireland would be his skill set.

"But certainly we are always open to assistance from the US."

Mr Varadkar and his deputy, Simon Coveney, plan to meet Northern Irish leaders in the coming weeks to try to resolve the impasse.

However, his already strained relationship with the DUP is likely to be placed under fresh pressure after he admitted he would like to see a united Ireland, albeit one that was a result of consent and compromise.

He said: “In terms of a united Ireland, our constitution is clear on this. Our constitution aspires to there being a united Ireland. I share that aspiration.

"But only on the basis that it is done by consent, and when it does come about I would like to see it command a degree of cross-community support. And that's the way I would envision it."

Referencing former Northern Irish politician John Hume, a co-founder of the SDLP, the Taoiseach added: "I very much follow the school of thought of the great John Hume, who talked less about a united Ireland and more about an agreed Ireland and a set of relationships that we can all be happy with. That's the way it should be."