Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Treisím leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht a cheapacháin mar Chathaoirleach ar an gcomhchoiste seo. Tá mé ag súil go mór leis an obair a bheidh sé ag treorú ar ár son agus muid ag tabhairt faoi chlár oibre chomhchoiste chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta. Tá spéis i gcónaí á léiriú agam i saol Thuaisceart Éireann agus saol an oileán seo uile. Tá mé ag súil go mór lena mbeidh idir lámha againn, mar dhaoine ag obair le chéile, chun fhorfheidhmiú Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta a chur i gcrích.

I congratulate the Chair on his appointment. I have no doubt his expertise in parliamentary procedure will stand him in good stead for the role he is about to embark on with regard to the work of this committee. Like other colleagues, I am extremely excited to be part of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I am of the generation to which Senator Comyn referred, a generation that was filled with hope, enthusiasm and excitement about the future that was put in place by the Good Friday Agreement. Even the name of this committee, referencing the continuing implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, shows us that the agreement is not just a static point but a blueprint and a way forward for the development of society not only in Northern Ireland and on this entire island but across the islands of Ireland and Britain. I look forward to throwing myself constructively into the work programme we have. I hope we will adopt the ingenuity of John Hume's three strands approach in how we look at that work and how to continue to support, augment and strengthen our relationships with civic and political societies in Northern Ireland, as well as our all-island life and exploring further areas of potential co-operation, but also in looking at the east-west relationship in the changed context that has now been brought upon us by what has happened in the United Kingdom in the past few years. I am optimistic, for example, the new agreement between the EU and UK provides a good backdrop for us to continue that work.

I look forward to getting stuck in and to learning, listening and collaborating with colleagues from across all parties.