Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In view of the contacts made thus far, the next step on an official level is that we would welcome a plenary session with all the partners in the near future. That is on foot of my entry into office as Taoiseach but also because a wider coming together of all the partners from time to time reflecting a wider sense of community and mutual acceptance is important for our life together as a nation. It is felt that a plenary session might be a helpful step in seeing where we go generally with the process and give everybody an indication of their involvement and a sense of what the potential of this dialogue might ultimately provide. A parliamentary question to the Minister for Education and Science might elicit more accurate information on his position.

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