Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I read in the newspapers that the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister are ready to announce a plan within the next month so that we can all move forward. Does the Taoiseach have any intention of seeking as wide a consensus as possible for that move forward? I believe he needs to do so under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Will the consensus include seeking formal soundings from the Opposition parties in this House? Does the Taoiseach recognise that the solemn self-determination of the Irish people, North and South, regarding the Good Friday Agreement requires that one cannot simply move the process on by Government diktat? Does he agree that direct rule vetted by a toothless Assembly does not meet the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and that a ten-member shadow executive appointed by the two Governments and broadly reflecting the parties' electoral strength might be a better idea? I hope it can be discussed in more detail through those more formal soundings.

Does the Taoiseach accept the Good Friday Agreement belongs to the people, North and South, and that unilateral moves by the two Governments would have very serious constitutional implications? Perhaps he might consider that, bearing in mind that fewer than 50% of voters in this jurisdiction gave the Government that he heads a mandate. Taking the Good Friday Agreement from which all this stems into account, the Taoiseach must consult more widely than at present. Does he intend to do so? From reading the report, it seems that he does not, but perhaps it was not complete.

See this speech in context