Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is precisely because of the engagement of the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and other Cabinet Ministers, that the unique needs in respect of Northern Ireland and the Border are being recognised by the European Union. We have been at the fore of emphasising this point to leaders within the European Union and, obviously, to the British Government. That has been recognised in their communications to date and, as I said to the Deputy, he cannot have it both ways. He has been on his feet for decades criticising everything the European Union stands for and is only lately recognising its values. At the rate he is going, he will be campaigning in favour of water charges at some point. Given that his party already supports them in the North, perhaps that will not be as a big a journey as we think.

The greatest contribution Sinn Féin could make to all of this, which is lamentably absent in our current environment, is the speedy formation of an Executive in Northern Ireland, whereby we would have an Administration in which Sinn Féin could play a leading role in representing the interests of that community. That is why it is so important to see those institutions, in which Deputy Adams can play a unique role, speedily put in place.

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