Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

That would be my position. On the other hand, I have no difficulty at all in facilitating engagement between people on the issue and I look forward to the receipt of proposals.

On the point I made earlier, any structure or forum we establish invariably will draw the very same divisions to the fore but only in the context of another theatre. What I would be interested in ascertaining from Deputy Timmins is ways and methodologies by which we can try to have a reasoned teasing out of the issues, be it settlements or whatever. For example, the resignation of President Abbas is bad news for the process. It is a further illustration of the degree to which political opinion, here and internationally, and, indeed, the Israeli authorities, must realise that moderate politicians like President Abbas must be able to show their people that politics works and that politics and the political process can yield results.

I would be interested in teasing out both perspectives. I take Deputy Timmins's point.

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