Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Those who doubt that should look at today's newspapers and see how polarised opinion is. Sometimes we are asked to believe that a sectarian head count in Northern Ireland will decide its political future. It is interesting to note that whereas the provisional movement has alienated and polarised Protestants in Northern Ireland, one third of Catholics are not with the movement on the project for a united Ireland. That is a poor return for a 30-year war of liberation. However, it is an apt reflection of what happens after 30 years of terrorism, thuggery, cowardice and savagery which we hope has now come to an end.

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