Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy McDonald's predecessor, Deputy Adams, adopted the approach of angrily refuting the idea that Sinn Féin had any case to answer on any issue. High Court findings of sectarian behaviour, media revelations of funding abuses, sectarian comments about getting one over on the Protestants in elections and so on were ignored. Instead we got ever more elaborate attacks on the motivation of the people asking the questions. I hope Deputy McDonald will take a different approach during her leadership.

The draft agreement does show serious movement in Sinn Féin's position. If it had adopted a similar position a year and a half ago, the Northern institutions would never have collapsed. I respect the right of any party to say it will not go to Westminster. What is unjustifiable is the decision to block anyone else from going. The money and effort which was put into preventing any nationalist voice in Westminster, even to the extent of handing a seat to the DUP, may soon have a disastrous effect for Ireland if only a few votes are involved in rejecting a fair customs solution for the Border.

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