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

There will be a break at 3.20 p.m. I must leave for a family reason. My sister and her husband are getting a distinguished award from the President and I am one of the lucky invited guests so members will have to excuse me. I will not be here for much of the debate. Some people from whom we have heard have said that in respect of a border poll, they believed at that time that it was implicit in the agreement that the British would have to consult with the Irish Government even though, as Mr. Bruton rightly points out, it is not written down. It is clearly a weakness that not enough thought was put into that. They were firm that there would have to be consultation before the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland would form that opinion. Mr. Bruton has raised some excellent ideas.