Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, I cannot force it upon them. Deputy Adams should believe that as things begin to improve in respect of the economy here, it might provide a small amount of additional flexibility to work on issues of importance in respect of the North-South bodies. The Government has been clear in this regard and, for instance, in respect of tourism and the Irish Open competition, it has been quite willing to have it allocated to Northern Ireland, as should be, on a regular basis. This will apply again for the future and the big advantage they have had, in terms of the wonderful support for the Giro d'Italia and the forthcoming British Open towards the end of this decade, will be important issues. As for encouraging Ministers on the North-South Ministerial Council to engage with one another, I refer to issues such as the Altnagelvin development and returning to a point at which, hopefully, the Government can assist with the A5. These are issues the Government must consider in terms of support that can be given from here to help Northern Ireland from an infrastructural point of view. However, the Government will engage in regard to the co-guarantorship of the agreement we have.

In response to Deputy Martin, I spoke to Prime Minister Cameron before the Scottish referendum and the last time I met him, we agreed we would have a meeting in Brussels at the next European Council dealing with climate change, emissions targets and so on. It may be necessary to have a meeting beyond that, by going to London. Senior civil servants were over there last week to make arrangements for the commencement of the talks and if it is necessary, I will be happy to do it and of course will advise the House of that. I agree with Deputy Martin that there is no case at present for a Border poll. There is no point in wasting time in having a divisive issue, when it is clear that the conditions are not there for it. Northern Ireland's own constitutional status was agreed when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. As the Ceann Comhairle is aware, the Agreement recognises the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland to continue to support the Union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland. That is what the Good Friday Agreement actually sets out. It is important not to confuse the position here with Scotland, where the constitutional question was whether there should be an independent Scotland. Unlike Scotland, there never has been a significant political popular opinion seeking independence for Northern Ireland. It is a different matter and in that sense, there is no point in wasting time in having a divisive Border poll when the conditions are not relevant for it.

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