Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on Northern Ireland, either among ourselves or with a Minister if one is available. I also ask him to consider inviting back the Orange Order, representatives of which addressed the House on 3 July 2012. Stormont is reconvening today to discuss that topic. Part of the problem with those who are now assaulting members of the PSNI and the police officers who have been drafted in from Britain is that they believe their community is under threat. When Mr. Nelson was in the House, he contrasted what happened to the minority population in County Antrim and the minority populations of counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan and asked which State was better at looking after its minorities. If people are so paranoid that they engage in such conduct, perhaps this House and this society can play a role. He referred to the nine Ulster counties in his speech, welcomed the invitation from the Leader as a formal recognition of the Orange Order's place in Irish society and stated that the order wants to contribute to the normalisation of relationships in these islands. He even quoted from the 1916 Proclamation on cherishing all the children of the nation equally. We need to reopen that dialogue. This House has a superb tradition in dealing with Northern Ireland and a new invitation to the Orange Order could only do good.