Ms Martina Anderson:

The Deputy knows it; so do we. That is part of the problem we have in the North. It goes back to what Ms McGuinness stated about the reckless behaviour of the British Government on where it may be going and the damage it could do to us all, but I take on board and accept her statement that it will be put into law. Within it, it states there will be no diminution of rights. Therefore, it is about ensuring the rights and entitlements of the people of the North will be upheld. Fifty years after the civil rights campaign, it is the Irish Government that needs to ensure it will stand over those rights. We have had comments made on the issue of the passports. It is not just because someone holds an Irish passport. As a result of the Good Friday Agreement, some 1.8 million of us have been afforded the right to be British or Irish or both. That means that the rights of the people of the North have to be applied, regardless of whether someone holds an Irish passport. Without a doubt, we need passport offices in the North, but that is another subject matter.

The principle of consent was built into the Good Friday Agreement. Senator Gerard P. Craughwell talked about the people of the North being part of the United Kingdom. For the first time in the North, we have been given an opportunity to identify as Irish, to have our Irish citizenship recognised and to have the aspiration of Irish unity to be taken forward and addressed in a Border poll. Let us remember that in April the European Council gave a signal to the people of Ireland when it stated that in the event of a Border poll being triggered under the Good Friday Agreement, it would mean that the North of Ireland would rejoin the European Union. Therefore, what we need is for the Irish Government to become a facilitator. Perhaps the Senator does not realise - I want everyone to know in case those listening do not realise it - that there is already a border in the Irish Sea. Animals, animal products, plants and plant produce are all checked at the port and airport in Belfast. I am not saying that border needs to be enhanced. I do not want to see a border between the North and the South or east to west, but let people realise that for decades there has been a border. We were able to tackle bluetongue on the island because we were able to work together on an all-island basis. One does not have to have new infrastructure put in place, but what can never happen and be accepted by anyone on the island is the re-emergence of a harder border. That cannot be tolerated. I accept that is something that is being said by everyone at this committee.