The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) will send three representatives to the State's official commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in Dublin this Saturday.
The ceremony, which is being held at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge, will be led by President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. It is the first State event to mark the 4½-month battle in which thousands of Irishmen died in 1916.
However, the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) Ian Paisley jnr told The Irish Times his party had not received any invitations to the event. "I know feelers were put out, but we're not aware of any invitations having been received," he said.
Asked if he would have any problem, in principle, attending the event, Mr Paisley said: "I don't believe so, no. This was slaughter that cut across community divisions . . . so I think it's right that it should be commemorated."
While any invitations received before Saturday would be considered, he said it was "a little late in the day now" as many of the party's senior figures have already arranged to attend events in northern France and Belfast this weekend.
A Government spokesman said last night letters had been issued last week "to the leaders of all Northern parties outlining the event and offering contact details regarding attendance."
A spokesman for the UUP confirmed that the party will be represented by three members: party chairman David Campbell, Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott and Young Ulster Unionist member Rebecca Black. North Down MLA Alan McFarland will attend in his capacity as member of a Somme association. East Belfast MLA Michael Copeland, who will be speaking at a separate commemoration in Drogheda on Saturday, said he was "delighted to be recognising and honouring those men.
"I very much welcome the fact that a period in Irish history that was missing from the history books has been recalled to mind," he added.
The event will also be attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin as well as members of the Government, the Council of State, the diplomatic corps and the judiciary.
Letters of invitation have been sent to all TDs, Senators and MEPs, along with representatives of the social partners and other national organisations.
Others in attendance will be members of military history societies and organisations established to honour the memory of those who served in disbanded Irish regiments. Veterans' groups have also been invited.
The ceremony will include a wreath-laying by the President and by ambassadors of those countries who participated in the battle - France, Germany, the UK, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, India and Australia. Nigel Hamilton, head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, will lay a wreath.
The Battle of the Somme, a Franco-British assault that continued from July 1st to November 18th, 1916, was one of the bloodiest engagements of the first World War.
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