Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In his obsession, and it has become an obsession, he wants people in the North, who are living in a state that never wanted them, to meekly tolerate being treated as second class citizens. That might be the Fianna Fáil leader's way. He has brought being a hurler on the ditch into disrepute. He misleads the Dáil regularly with untruthful statements and puts words in my mouth that I never said. He refuses to accept the Sinn Féin mandate in the North while refusing to contest elections in the North.

I have a message for Teachta Martin about nationalists in the North. He has missed this, but I do not believe the Government has missed the sea change in the attitude of nationalists in the past year. We will never again accept any British Government, unionist leader or any Dublin politician deciding what is or is not acceptable for us. Martin McGuinness made a stand, and that stand was endorsed in two elections by the overwhelming majority of the nationalist electorate in the Six Counties. It was vindicated just a few days ago in the voices of 200 nationalists from civic society. These are not necessarily Sinn Féin supporters. They might be, but I do not know. They wrote to the Taoiseach and appealed to him to reassure them of his commitment to stand for equality and a human rights based society and of his determination to secure and protect the rights of all citizens in the North of Ireland. We want the Fianna Fáil leader and the Government to stand up for, and vindicate, the rights of everyone in the North. These were lawyers, academics, sports people, writers and citizens from all walks of life seeking reassurance on the Taoiseach's commitment. Human rights lawyer, Niall Murphy, put it well when he asked why someone should have a right in Donegal but not have the same right in Derry. Why can somebody who can marry in this State and in Britain not do so in the North? Why can citizens in the North not have any of these rights?

The DUP and the British Government are responsible for the political crisis in the North and for the lack of progress in the delivery of rights and in implementing past agreements. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the Government have an onerous responsibility to act decisively, as does Sinn Féin. However, we will not run away from our responsibilities. I again appeal to the Government to take the lead. It is not the best option but it should take the lead by convening the intergovernmental conference early in the new year.

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