Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Over the last six years, the people of this island, particularly those in Northern Ireland, have been used as a political plaything by the forces that have driven Brexit. With the announcement last night of the suspension of checks and the rumours that the First Minister is due to resign, once again the people of Northern Ireland are being put at risk. A collapse of Stormont will see no budget being passed by the assembly and no apologies given for institutional abuse. We will again see the people of Northern Ireland, the majority of whom did not vote for Brexit, utterly let down by a small minority on this island and a worrying minority on another island. How is the Government going to stand up for the people of Northern Ireland and ensure that the programme for Government commitment to protecting the gains of the peace process, the Good Friday Agreement and the all-island economy will be maintained?

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