Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach knows, the shared island initiative was launched in October 2020. The objective of the initiative is the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in order to develop enhanced links, co-operation and mutual understanding on the island of Ireland. In this regard, I welcome in particular the shared island dialogue. This has given a voice to many individuals, groups and organisations which can find it difficult to be heard amidst the ongoing arguments between the nationalist and unionist politicians debating the major constitutional issues of the day.

I hope that this dialogue can continue in the coming months, in the run-up to the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in May, so that the voice of civic society can be heard above all the noise associated with party political electioneering. The shared island initiative also involves working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government to address the strategic challenges faced on the island. It seems to me that the British Government is preoccupied with other issues at this time and, of course, the Northern Ireland Executive has collapsed. Would the Taoiseach agree that the two Governments and all parties in Northern Ireland will have to make an enormous effort to get the Executive up and running after the May elections and that this challenge cannot be underestimated? The Northern Ireland protocol will have to be off the agenda by then.

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