Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While the late Martin McGuinness had differences of opinion with former First Minister Foster, they set out an agreed set of principles and objectives which were sent to Prime Minister May last year. The Sinn Féin Party now needs to measure up to what Martin McGuinness did and put aside differences in the greater interests of the peoples of Northern Ireland in respect of the objectives they wish to pursue. For my part, I will be very happy as head of Government with our Ministers to work with the British Government and the Prime Minister in the interest of pursuing the many outstanding issues since the Good Friday Agreement was put in place in 1998. The immediate priority and the responsibility of the elected politicians in Northern Ireland is to put together a functional Executive. Otherwise we are trying to speak for them from this distance or from other locations. It would be much more preferable if we had an agreed position, stating it as our proposition, and while there will be differences of opinion this does not prevent doing what Martin McGuinness did in the greater interest of peace and harmony in the communities in the North.

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