David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With respect, it is not about making threats. It is about making sure we get agreement on issues on which we were told we had agreement. I have said consistently that my quarrel is not necessarily with the Tánaiste and the Irish Government but the benchmark that was set by all political parties in the political system here, which were supportive of the Irish approach to the negotiations and the European Union's approach, was that we would avoid ending up going into October with the Irish issues unresolved and no real or substantial progress other than fine words from the British Prime Minister in terms of high-level principles but with no detail worked out. We were told that would not happen. We were told we would not move on from phase 1 until the Irish issues were resolved. We did, and we had an agreement in December which we were told was cast iron. We were told by the Tánaiste that we would have real and substantial progress by June. We have not had it. The Tánaiste will understand that we have a job to hold him, and the Government, to account.

See this speech in context