Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Adams for his comments. When I was speaking to the First Minister of Scotland, Mr. Alex Salmond MSP, at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly some time ago, he outlined the opportunity that might exist for people in Scotland to cast their votes on independence. That opportunity is to be given. The agreement to do so was signed yesterday. One question will be asked of the electorate. There are various views as to what the Scottish people wish to do. I do not want to go that far now.

I was struck by the presentation made here some time ago by the survivors of Kingsmill. I want to meet the group Ms Arlene Foster MLA wishes to bring here from Fermanagh, and with the Ballymurphy people Deputy McDonald spoke of last week. Other groups have requested meetings. There is a great well of emotion which needs to be released from ordinary people whose loved ones lost their lives on either side of this conflict. It is not the time to have a poll in a Border situation when such a well of emotion needs to be released so that a new understanding about the future is brought about.

This is not the time for a Green Paper. I take the Deputy's point and I am well aware of what the Good Friday Agreement says. There is, however, a time and place for everything. We need to get our economy in order here. We need to see the excitement and encouragement that people will experience when the economy is growing and thriving and jobs are being created with direct beneficial impact on the Border. I hope the same can apply to the Border areas in the Six Counties and beyond.

The Constitutional Convention may have an opportunity to reflect on this. I sent invitations to all political parties. One of those parties has declined to send a representative to the convention when it is set up. That forum will have an opportunity to reflect on the issues raised by the Deputy, such as Green Papers, Border polls and so on.

A priority of the Government is to deal with our economy and the issues that arise from that. With regard to Northern Ireland issues, I would like to provide an opportunity for those who have never had the chance to speak their minds about what happened within their family units on either side of the conflict, with devastating and tragic results. We owe them that, at least.

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