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

I will ask Lord Alderdice a few questions before we go into the second round. I welcome his commentary. Some of the speakers we have had before us seemed to say there was an implicit agreement that the Irish Government would have to be consulted on the decision of the Secretary of State in Britain on that issue. They suggested that it was implicit that it would have to be done with the consent of both Governments even though this is not actually stated in the agreement. I do not know if Lord Alderdice has a view on that. Does he agree that it will not be a case of one person looking into his or her heart, like de Valera would have in the past, but instead it will be a case of the two Governments reaching a consensus?