Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his detailed presentation and for his engagement with us and other committees over the past week. I gather from his comments that he is downbeat about the possibility of having the political institutions - the Executive, the Assembly and the North-South Ministerial Council - restored in the near future. It is disappointing that, more than two years on, we do not have functioning political institutions in Northern Ireland at what is a critical time in the history of these islands. Have the talks been adjourned sine dieor have arrangements been made for the Secretary of State, the Tánaiste and the political parties in Stormont to meet again? Has any consideration been given to the idea floated by some people of an independent chair for the talks?Every effort has to be made. There is an onus on Sinn Féin, the DUP and the two Governments to ensure that we have those institutions, which came about after a great deal of hard work by different Governments and political parties.

I am glad that the Tánaiste mentioned the legacy issues. The Dublin and Monaghan bombings are a major issue in my area.

Mr. Molloy referred to voting rights at this committee, but this is not a legislative committee. Generally, committees are proportionately representative of the groupings and political parties in the parliaments they represent. The day that this committee needs to vote will be a day that we on this island will be going backwards. I sincerely hope that we never need to have votes.