Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

There will be a huge cead míle fáilte for the Taoiseach when he visits Belfast. We are very fond of County Mayo and if he gives me notice, we might arrange for him to visit Michael Davitt GAC which is a fine hurling club. However, he stated - perhaps the leader of Fianna Fáil said the same thing - it was not foreseen that a member of the Executive could leave and then return. Clearly, he was talking about Mr. Peter Robinson, the only person to have done this. All Members respect this as in his dire and hugely difficult family circumstances, this was the appropriate and right thing for him to do. As a matter of eolas or information to the Taoiseach and the leader of Fianna Fáil in respect of the only other person to do so, Mr. Martin McGuinness, his temporary replacement, Mr. John O'Dowd, has been praised by other Unionist Ministers for the way in which he is handling his brief. Moreover, the Taoiseach will be aware that on foot of the help his Ministers are giving to Mr. McGuinness, perhaps he might not be obliged to return.

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