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Brexit must not undermine peace process, Hillary Clinton says on Dublin visit

 Hillary Clinton gives a lecture in the Edmund Burke Lecture Theatre, Trinity College Dublin ahead of receiving an honorary degree from the university. Picture by Brian Lawless, PA Wire
 Hillary Clinton gives a lecture in the Edmund Burke Lecture Theatre, Trinity College Dublin ahead of receiving an honorary degree from the university. Picture by Brian Lawless, PA Wire  Hillary Clinton gives a lecture in the Edmund Burke Lecture Theatre, Trinity College Dublin ahead of receiving an honorary degree from the university. Picture by Brian Lawless, PA Wire

Hillary Clinton has said Brexit should not be allowed to undermine the Northern Ireland peace process.

The former US secretary of state and presidential candidate was at Trinity College Dublin to receive an honorary degree.

She said the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely ended violence in Northern Ireland set an example for the rest of the world of what was possible when citizens came together to demand peace and worked to preserve it.

She added: "As the Brexit debate rages on, I continue to believe in the value of the European Union, and of a Europe that is whole, free and at peace.

"No matter the outcome of these discussions, Brexit should not be allowed to undermine the peace that people voted, fought and even died for."

The impact of Britain's withdrawal from the bloc next year on the peace process is disputed.

The future of the border is one of the most vexed outstanding issues facing negotiators in Brussels.

In his new book James Comey compares Mr Trump to a mafia don and calls his leadership of the country "ego driven and about personal loyalty". Picture by Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press
In his new book James Comey compares Mr Trump to a mafia don and calls his leadership of the country "ego driven and about personal loyalty". Picture by Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press In his new book James Comey compares Mr Trump to a mafia don and calls his leadership of the country "ego driven and about personal loyalty". Picture by Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press

A variety of North/South co-operation mechanisms were established as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mrs Clinton first visited Northern Ireland in 1995 at a crucial time for the peace process.

She accompanied Bill Clinton as he became the first serving US president to visit Northern Ireland and they were greeted by huge crowds of well-wishers.

They switched on the Christmas lights in Belfast during a hugely symbolic visit.

On Thursday Mrs Clinton met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings in Dublin to discuss gender equality.

The informal discussion came on the same day European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier also held talks with Mr Varadkar.

Meanwhile, former FBI director James Comey has said he feels bad that Mrs Clinton blames him for her presidential loss.

Mrs Clinton had criticised Mr Comey's handling of the investigation into her use of a private email server.

She previously said: "'I would have won but for James Comey's letter on the 28th of October".

Mr Comey, who was appointed by President Barack Obama and fired by President Donald Trump, told Today with Sean O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1 that she should read part of his book which explains why certain decisions were made.

"'I honestly don't think you can learn about those decisions and walk away thinking we were intending to harm her in some way... there was no bias, we were trying to do the right thing by the values of our institution," he said.

In her book, Mrs Clinton wrote that she felt Mr Comey had 'shivved' her - a reference to a homemade prison knife.

Mr Comey said today her comment "makes me feel badly that she's carrying around that kind of pain".