Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We have offered support already to the Government for what it is doing. The economy in Northern Ireland must be a matter of concern to the Taoiseach. The Government is concerned about our own economy but the situation in the Northern Ireland economy is also serious. The outstanding achievement of putting the Good Friday Agreement in place was the involvement of so many Governments and people over so many years. The involvement of President Clinton motivated the parties to arrive at that point. It may be necessary to call on the Secretary of State to come to assist in that motivation, not to conclude it, because that is not within her remit, but in the same way as the American Government visibly encouraged and assisted the parties to agree to the Good Friday Agreement, so too it should be taken into account if it would bring this across the line.

If these talks drag on for another while, does the Taoiseach intend, along with the British Prime Minister, to publish the proposals they had intended to publish or what might be changed? If there is no conclusion in the next day or so, does the Taoiseach intend to return to Belfast with the British Prime Minister or does he intend to publish the proposals? Clearly, an imposed solution is not as satisfactory as one that can be agreed and negotiated among the parties themselves.

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