Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is agreement among all of us that the issue at stake is the implementation of agreements previously signed. The position taken by Sinn Féin, to insist that matters agreed are delivered, is not a form of grandstanding, nor is it a case of Sinn Féin bickering or presenting a Sinn Féin wish list. It is Sinn Féin insisting on something that is the very basis of good government and the foundation of the credibility of the institutions, namely, the Executive and the Assembly. When Governments sign agreements, lodge them and solemnly pledge them, they have to be honoured. This is not to keep Sinn Féin happy or satisfy politicians - it is expected by the people. It is not a green against orange debate nor a point-scoring exercise but it is about delivering on matters that have long since been solemnly agreed.

I listened to the Minister very carefully and I am heartened by the fact that the two Governments are united in their determination to ensure that these agreements are implemented. He now needs to make good on that pledge. Arriving at "destination implementation" will mean the Minister exerting some authority and influence on his counterparts. The past is very often used as a political platform and has been so used in this Chamber. We all accept that every person injured, bereaved or otherwise affected by the conflict deserves equal treatment and equal recognition. We arrived at specific mechanisms to deal with legacy issues but none of that has happened. The Minister knows the reason is that the British have a trumped-up concern over what they term "national security". That needs to be addressed head on. Nobody on any side of this House should at any stage again raise hurtful episodes from the past for political purposes while refusing to implement the very processes that have the prospect of bringing comfort and truth to victims and their families. The British are stopping that and it is our job to move the situation forward.

We need to establish two things to satisfy the public mind north of the Border. First, the institutions need to be credible and that is all about delivery and implementation. Second, they should be clean, which means no corruption, no funny business and no skullduggery and there needs to be no apology from us when we stand against the allegations such as those pertaining to the RHI scandal.

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