Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for making that statement. I welcome the decision by the Ceann Comhairle to respond to the letter from Arlene Foster. It was a very strong statement to the effect that nothing we do in here should in any way contribute to undermining the democratic process. I believe the tweet was offensive at a time when, more than ever, we all need to work together with the UK leaving the European Union. We all have a harder task in respect of working together with the Six Counties, which will be outside the EU, and we must make sure that nothing is done to undermine that process whereby the entire issue is now changed.

This committee is one of the most important committees in this House. We are here to hold Departments and State authorities to account. Likewise, it is here to hold every one of us to account, including Deputy Stanley, as Chairman. It is disappointing that this tweet was sent out. The Chairman's party leader said his was a one-off tweet but a number of tweets have been sent over the past number of months which were subsequently withdrawn. There is a lot of speculation that some of these tweets are being deliberately and carefully drafted. That is not the way to deal with issues and create division, and I certainly believe the tweet has created division.

It is extremely important now that the Chairman makes a full statement on this matter in the Dáil to re-establish his credibility as Chairman and the credibility of this committee. Many people died over the 30 years of conflict. The day the Chairman mentioned, the Narrow Water attack, was the same day two people aged 14 and 15 died in another tragedy at a different location. It is extremely important that we do not bring back the divisions that existed at that time or add to them in any way.