Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Sea, os rud é go raibh an Teachta gearr leis an méid a bhí le rá aige, beidh mise gearr chomh maith.

It is important to recognise the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and I will say one thing on it. I ask that this House, and everyone involved in politics, not make the assumption that now that the institutions have been put in place, we are seeing the full implementation of the Agreement as a result. Too often the hard part of setting up the institutions, as difficult as that is, can hide the fact that there is much work to be done in order to implement the spirit of the Agreement as well as the letter. In fact, the quality of its implementation is dependent upon the spirit of the Agreement being embraced by all.

In particular, it is our role in this House, quite apart from our various responsibilities under the Agreement, to work hard to find ways of dealing with the real problem that exists in Northern Ireland, which is the divisiveness and unfortunate sectarianism which is still a part of how business proceeds. I will add quickly that the politicians are committed to the implementation of the Agreement, but it is for society in Northern Ireland generally, and indeed for us in the Republic, to reassess our views on how we can be more open and tolerant so that others may not be so defensive towards us. This is in the interests of political progress in line with the Agreement and on the basis of consent and peaceful progress. Addressing these issues in all areas of Ireland — we must not exempt ourselves from succumbing to that sort of thinking from time to time — is the best tribute we can pay to all of those who, ten years ago, had the courage of their convictions and signed up to the Agreement.

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