Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Is it not clear that whatever about Sinn Féin, the DUP will not finalise agreement before the general election due to be held in Britain and Northern Ireland next year because it seeks to maximise its vote in that sectarian part of the divide and trump its rivals? Does the Taoiseach accept that, unfortunately, after ten years of a so-called peace process, polarisation in the communities, including their physical separation, is as never before, is at a higher level than ever and the Agreement has not changed that?

It is a long time since we asked the Taoiseach to report on his discussions with Prime Minister Blair or representatives of the United States Administration on the situation in Iraq. Will he do so now because since we last discussed it, several reports have conclusively stated there were no weapons of mass destruction and that it was a lie to say there were? Has Mr. Blair apologised to the Taoiseach——

See this speech in context