Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak to this motion on the current stalemate in the peace process. It is time for cool heads but straight talking is also needed. We need to turn off the megaphones and start listening to one another rather than scoring political points for the sake of electoral gain. I accept that my view might be unpopular but I am sticking with the architects of the peace process. My position is clear and I do not want it misrepresented in the media. We should all pursue our political objectives by exclusively peaceful and democratic means. I reject criminality in all its forms.

I commend those who took risks for peace and support the positive and constructive role played by all those who have participated actively in the peace process. I want the process to involve inclusive dialogue and negotiation. However, I have some concern about sections of this motion because I believe all victims should be treated with equal respect and dignity. I do not accept that some are more equal and important than others.

I have many friends who were victims of the Troubles and I have yet to hear them call for revenge, exclusion or retaliation. They all want this project to succeed. We should listen to and learn from those affected by the Troubles and not use the 3,000-plus people who were killed to score political points.

We must face up to the reality that there were three major groups involved in violence on this island. There was physical force on the part of republicans, Unionist violence and British state violence mixed with collusion. There is no high moral ground on which some sections of Irish society can stand. I call on all sides to change to move the process forward. By this, I do not mean they should scrap their political principles but that they should take another step forward to implement the Good Friday Agreement.

We all need the courage and bottle to change. I am immediately reminded of the words of Nelson Mandela who stated: "One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that, until I changed myself, I could not change others." This is very relevant to this debate. We must realise that only a peace between equals can last. Equality, respect, diversity and accommodating difference comprise the way out of this crisis. These principles represent true republicanism. That is why I have major concerns about the exclusive element of this motion. When Nelson Mandela invited his jailer to his presidential inauguration he set a fine example for a country that needed to forgive its past mistakes in order to build a brighter future.

Martin Luther King said:

Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what was done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship.

Let us use the ideas of Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and James Connolly and move on from this crisis in our peace process.

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