Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

What the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have said is that we want progress. We want everybody to move forward together, we want to make the deadline of 24 November and we do not want any new preconditions to be created. In that way, we will know exactly where we are going. We had a text in December of 2004 which was an agreed text. We were almost at the finishing line, with everybody about to sit down together.

There are advantages in everything. We have the preparation for the government committee. I pay tribute to all those involved in that committee, especially MLAs Molloy and Wells. Much dialogue, discussion and negotiation is taking place at that committee. A start has been made. We want to continue with the dialogue and to build trust. We want everybody to endorse the policing services and become involved with them.

Every political party with a mandate in Northern Ireland has a serious moral, political and public responsibility to give leadership and to be engaged and involved to achieve a consensus that will build trust and confidence in order that a structure can be put in place to allow the people of Northern Ireland to do their own business, with the support of the two Governments. That is our goal and desire.

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