Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Adams talked about dialogue as central to problem solving, and this is true. Clearly after so many years, when the Good Friday Agreement came about, it put an end to terrorist activities and 3,000 people being bombed and shot and murdered. Obviously, people sat down around tables at the end of the day and decided in the best interests of everybody in the communities that these things should end. Negative leadership is of little value. It causes disillusionment and despair and a sense of hopelessness. There is always an answer to conflict issues. Politics and strong leadership can provide a motivation and an incentive for people to believe in that and to see that it actually happens.

Maybe the British Prime Minister knows more about outer Mongolia than most of us. I am not sure from my conversations with him. He is engaged about places in Northern Ireland. Obviously, I take Deputy Adams's comment in the way in which he gave it. I am quite sure that, if he engaged deeply with the British Prime Minister, he would be able to explain what it is he does know about Northern Ireland.

Yes, Acht na Gaeilge is an issue. I am glad the Executive and the Assembly have accepted the motion from the deputy First Minister. Speaking at the meeting last night, obviously he was concerned about what might happen. This is a good thing to have, that there is a unanimous response to a call for calm heads and sanity here at a time of great sensitivity towards the weekend. I am glad also that the Deputy made the point that the average person of the Unionist persuasion does not support this kind of activity and that those who were responsible before for violence and conflict in these kinds of situations do not have the support of the ordinary people. I think that is certainly an issue.

Deputy Martin raised the point as to whether we should engage again with the British Prime Minister. I am sending over the senior personnel from the Civil Service here to Downing Street this week. I mentioned that to the Prime Minister on Sunday. If it is necessary, I will either talk to him or I do not have a problem in arranging a meeting if it is worthwhile doing it.

I think the issue here, of course, is tied up in domestic politics as well to an extent. The Unionist parties do seem to have moved away from the centrality of the support for the Good Friday Agreement, which is so important to its being concluded successfully. I hope they get back onto that patch again and that we do not have a drift, as the Deputy pointed out in his question earlier. We will keep a very close eye on this, Deputy, in respect of the developments as they are in Belfast and in Northern Ireland and keep in contact with the parties and the Government in Downing Street to see how the situation evolves.

Deputy Mathews is gone. He did say we all have to get along - this is true. He spoke about the astronaut out among the galaxies looking down at the Earth.

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