Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I take it from what the Taoiseach has said that there is no backing away from the 24 November on the part of the two Governments. Has he thought about what would be the correct course of action if there were no progress from the talks in Scotland? Is there any point in persisting until 24 November if there is none? Would it not be better to call it a day at that stage?

Do I misinterpret the comments of the preparation for Government committee of the DUP as suggesting it is not ready to share power? If I do not, is the best way to test the DUP's mettle for Sinn Féin to declare its support for policing in Northern Ireland? Has there been any progress in the summer months in respect of the likelihood of Sinn Féin taking its seats on the policing board?

If things do not proceed as we hope they will, what is the Taoiseach's expectation of what will happen to the North-South bodies in any new dispensation? Will it be possible for them to continue in existence and will it be possible to expand their role?

How does the Taoiseach respond to statements, made during private discussions a number of us have held with senior members of the DUP, to the effect that they have come to grips with many issues in recent times and are prepared to see a form of democracy return to Northern Ireland in the form of devolved institutions but are damned if they are going to co-operate with an arbitrary date set by the two Governments? They say that is not the way to make progress and that they will do so in their own time rather than respond to the fixing of an arbitrary date by the British and Irish Governments.

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