Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is an eye-opener for those of us in the South who do not know the North as well as the Sinn Féin representatives that walls, fences and gateways still divide neighbourhoods between Nationalists and Unionists. That brings it very much into focus how tenuous relationships are between the two communities, particularly when 30,000 loyal Unionists march and there are counter-demonstrations. Then we read the Marian Price statements and hear that a thousand people attended the funeral of a Real IRA member in Dublin. It makes us sharply conscious that Northern Ireland has not gone away. It is amazing that in 2012 such scenarios exist. The State still has to watch the peace process carefully and nurture the progressive community development programmes funded by the Government.

Vote 27 also deals with international co-operation and expenditure on civil society programmes. The work and targeted funding through overseas aid programmes on issues such as HIV-AIDS and education is admirable. Irish Aid's work is phenomenally important and it helps us in the international arena to raise Ireland's profile, which is out of proportion with its size in comparison to other aid agencies. I support the budget to maintain spending in this field.