Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I join the Taoiseach in wishing First Minister Ian Paisley well following his announced retirement. As has been stated, he deserves credit for having led unionism along a very difficult road in recent times. That should be acknowledged and it should be recognised that this took a certain amount of courage on his part and that of his colleagues. The process did not just involve Ian Paisley.

In that must rest confidence in a seamless transition of leadership of the DUP and into the role of First Minister in the Assembly and Executive and going forward on the basis of partnership with Sinn Féin and all other opinion represented within the Assembly. It is recognised by the collective leadership in the DUP that the only way forward is in partnership with Nationalists and republicans, not only in terms of the Six Counties area of our country but across the whole island of Ireland.

It should be said that Ian Paisley, for the greater part of his political career, for want of any other word, was central to the conflict that waged in the North of our island for upwards of 30 years.

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