John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I could not help noticing some contradictions buried in the motion. Sinn Féin is trying to give the impression that it is the honest broker trying to deliver on an agreement that was made 15 years ago and that it is somehow the party that wishes to move on and leave the past behind. It seeks to do so, however, purely on its terms. The line in the motion that caught my attention was a call on the Government to "renew substantive engagement with the British government". The political party that has proven itself in the past 15 years to be uninterested in substantive engagement is the party that tabled the motion.

The Minister referred to Home Rule. Sinn Féin's elected members, including the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, constantly speak of remembering and recognising the Irishmen who fought in the First World War. However, when the Queen visited Islandbridge a couple of years ago Mr. McGuinness boycotted the event.

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