Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the British Brexit Secretary, David Davis said that Brexit would not result in a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction emerging in Britain. I am not sure where or when it was suggested that it would, although I am sure some people will be relieved by this clarification. There are, however, some hardline Brexiteers who seem to be living on a very different planet to the rest of us. Kate Hoey, MP said yesterday that the Good Friday Agreement was unsustainable. Last week, Owen Paterson, who Deputy Adams once described accurately as "a complete tube", said the Good Friday Agreement had outlived its use. This comes from a former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. It is completely bonkers stuff. These remarks to little to allay the real fears and concerns of people across this island, and in the North in particular, about the Tory Brexit agenda. Not alone are we facing the negative impacts on our economy, our rights and on every aspect of society but now some of them also want to cast aside the Good Friday Agreement.

The Taoiseach will be aware that Deputy McDonald and Michelle O'Neill are in London today, where they will make clear to the Prime Minister, Theresa May, that the attitudes being bandied about are ridiculous and unacceptable. We know that the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions are what is best for all our people, our economy, public services and building reconciliation. Given the collapse of last week's talks, our view is that the best way forward is to embrace the Good Friday Agreement and re-establish the Executive on the basis of equality and respect, as intended. Sinn Féin has tried to do this over the last year. We reached an agreement with the DUP last week but unfortunately the DUP walked away and ended the process. The Good Friday Agreement provides for the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to reflect the co-equal and co-guarantor status of the two Governments. The two Governments must initiate this as a matter of urgency and move to implement outstanding commitments. That includes the Irish language Act, the release of funds for legacy inquests and the progression of legacy mechanisms. It also includes the safeguarding of rights for all citizens including the right for marriage equality.

Will the Taoiseach initiate the intergovernmental conference to allow for these issues to be progressed in that forum?

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