Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Arguably, there are also citizens in this State who have not had any economic dividend from decades of so-called sovereignty.

One of the difficulties is that the Assembly does not have fiscal powers. Sinn Féin has been arguing for the transfer of fiscal powers for some time. The British Government retains control, by and large, through a block grant, which has become a matter of deliberate misinformation in this Chamber. The Taoiseach knows that the British Government unilaterally cut £4 billion off this grant recently. We need to achieve a transfer of fiscal powers to the Assembly, which will help people across the entire island. We also need to continue to make representation on the British Government’s responsibilities for the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements. I have no doubt there is a very good relationship between the Government and the State and the British Administration. We would make an awful and grievous mistake, however, if we did not institutionalise the overseeing of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

If there is not at this time in existence an implementation body or a group charged with that responsibility, we are heading into trouble in the time ahead.

I commend the matter of fiscal powers being transferred and in terms of people's economic entitlement, that requires regeneration and a focus by Irish Government as well as the British Government on the respective responsibilities.

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