Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

There has been plenty of impetus on this side. Let us be fair. The Farmleigh conference is evidence of a genuine desire to explore the issues. The conference next week is similar. One thing one does not do in Northern Ireland is set dates, as I know from the past 18 months. What tends to happen if one sets a date is that the determination is any time beyond that date. I have no intention of setting a date. The momentum is in the right area. In this jurisdiction we have significant experience of such fora in operation and have fewer issues or concerns about them. In Northern Ireland, I sometimes pick up that people have different perspectives on that.

I was in north Belfast last week and visited the Tiger's Bay and New Lodge area, which had considerable challenges throughout the Troubles and latterly. It is interesting to see how many civic society and community groups are now working together very effectively in the local area and genuinely moving things forward, in terms of community integration. I am very committed to this and the Deputy should take it that we will work closely with him.

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