Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is essential that we avoid the very unwelcome and unacceptable behaviour of last December and January on the parades and flags issue. We cannot have people accepting the determinations of the Parades Commission when it suits them. That message should be made clear to all political leaders in Northern Ireland. Does the Tánaiste know if Dr. Haass proposes to meet with groups from the Republic? We must emphasise continually that our State has a critical role to play in the next critical phase of the peace process.

We have an important long-term strategic interest in the success of the agreements, that were painstakingly put in place and on which so much work was done by so many stakeholders over many years.

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