Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I hear what the Tánaiste is saying about how matters have advanced during the past 20 years but the Assembly has not been sitting in the North of Ireland since January 2017 and there is no prospect of that happening, at least in the short term. In view of all the complicating factors, such as the attempts to get the Assembly up and running and have self-governance in the North of Ireland, and the challenges, of which the Tánaiste is well aware, with which he is dealing on a daily basis in terms of Brexit and how that will impact on the island of Ireland, and in particular on the North of Ireland, we may need to consider, given that it is almost 18 month since the Assembly sat, the need to move the process onto a another level. I hear what the Tánaiste is saying about the way matters have worked during the past 20 years, but we have reached a juncture where I believe an independent chair is required. How long more can matters drift without action being taken to try to bring the parties together in the interests of all of us on the island, and particularly those in the North of Ireland, as we go deeper into the Brexit negotiations to make sure an Assembly is up and running in the North?

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