Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is rare indeed that relations were ever as good as they were when Mr. Blair was in government. It was from there that the peace process developed. I want to acknowledge that we need somebody in the United Kingdom who has the same depth of knowledge and understanding as that Government and other Prime Ministers, such as John Major, had. I concur with Mr. Powell that the situation has never been as bad between Britain and Ireland. One of the core elements of the Good Friday Agreement was the assembly, as well as North-South bodies which are not meeting. It is a complete breakdown and a permanent crisis, and in that context there is no communication. Nobody is talking to anybody else. A drift is never good in such cases.

There will be 15 minutes per speaker. I will let members know when there is a minute left in order to be fair to everybody. Speakers will go in order of political party so that everybody gets the same time, regardless of the strength in whatever parliament he or she is in.. The order will be Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, SDLP, Alliance and the Green Party, followed by Sinn Féin MPs, the Labour Party, Independents, Aontú and Senator Frances Black.