Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I responded to the last question during a previous Question Time. The situation has not changed in that respect in terms of the reply I made on that occasion.

The opportunity for discussion today relates to developments in Northern Ireland and to the bilateral relationship between this country and Britain in general. I wish to begin the political discussion and set up the relationship in a way that will enable us to make progress on a range of issues.

On the question of commemoration, initiatives that have certain perspectives have intrinsic merit in their own right based on the current contemporary situation and then there is the question of how we use commemoration in as inclusive a way as possible. That does not in any way indicate a reticence on our part to promote our own political solutions to the general matters that are under discussion, but the purpose of commemoration and what we are trying to achieve while doing so with pride and historical accuracy and giving due tribute to those whom we commemorate is to do so in as inclusive a way as possible. There are other issues, initiatives and times for us to engage in other aspects of how we can promote the political philosophy we espouse.

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