Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, agus ag an Taoiseach.

I read the Taoiseach's remarks which he has repeated here today. It is obvious why I would welcome them. They were a good outline of what has been achieved and of what is continuing.

I also commend the Ceann Comhairle and the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly on the North-South Inter-Parliamentary Association meeting. This is a good and quiet example of working for mutual benefit. The North-South Ministerial Council and all the sectoral elements are working together to erase at least some of the worst aspects of the negative effects of partition.

I am consciously not asking the Taoiseach simply to give a response here today. I am asking him to consider that we have to go further than this. The issue is topical because of what is happening in Scotland but it is also one of the huge challenges facing us. No Irish Government has brought forward a plan. I spent yesterday at Stormont. The atmosphere in the North is totally different from what it used to be when I was growing up there. There is considerable potential.

Would the Taoiseach go away and consider the Government's attitude to a Border poll, a Green Paper or to opening up a dialogue? We have ideas on many of these issues. They are part of an international agreement, the Good Friday Agreement, aspects of which have yet to be implemented.

I invite the Taoiseach to prepare a strategy in co-operation with the rest of us and to commit the Government to taking the lead on this issue.

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