Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The grouping of these questions is not good, a Cheann Comhairle. There are many questions about Northern Ireland, some about Ireland-US relations and one about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. These could have been grouped better. It is not satisfactory for Members.

Everybody here supports the Government's efforts to assist in bringing the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement to a successful conclusion. The current impasse seems to have arisen from elements of the St. Andrew's Agreement, which was put together by the two Governments at the time but was not accepted by all of the parties. It annoys me that there were clear signals coming from Belfast that the talks were about to be concluded, but events have resulted in the Prime Ministers of two sovereign Governments having to change their diaries and so on. Be that as it may, a successful conclusion is what is important.

Is the Taoiseach concerned that a significant proportion of the DUP membership does not accept what is on the table? Is it his view that despite the BBC report of a 60-40 divide on the matter of policing and parades, the impasse can be overcome?

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