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

To take the Deputy's last question first, I think the White House, through the person of President Biden, has been remarkably consistent, strong and assertive in regard to the Good Friday Agreement and the protection of the agreement. In my meeting with the President, he was very strong on that. I briefed him on the current situation in Northern Ireland in respect of the Executive and the fact it was not operational, given what had happened, that elections were pending and that, from our perspective, a lot of work will be needed in the aftermath of those elections to restore the institutions.

On the socioeconomic front and the political front, I always have been very consistent in saying that the institutions should never be undermined and should never be collapsed by anybody or by any political party. If the people elect one to the assembly and then to the Executive, one should take one's seat and one's position on the Executive and discharge one's duties on behalf of the people for the full duration of that parliamentary cycle. Unfortunately, the history of the Good Friday Agreement, the assembly and the Executive is that, too often, the default position has been either to withdraw for periods from the Executive or to collapse it when different crises emerge. That has been a very significant problem in terms of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement which, in turn, has weakened people's respect and esteem for the institutions. If we compare consistent surveys in terms of opinion on the assembly versus the Scottish Parliament, there is a marked difference. I would put forward that the basis for this is that, in Scotland, there has not been a similar interruption and the Government there is perceived to be working for its people. I acknowledge that the Scottish Parliament has some more powers, but the North has been interrupted too much by collapse. This recent collapse is unacceptable. It should not have happened and it is wrong for it to occur. I have been very consistent about that.

There have been numerous commitments at this stage regarding the Irish language Act. The Secretary of State committed to Sinn Féin that he would bring it in at the Westminster Parliament. In my view, that promise should be fulfilled. When agreements are made, agreements should be honoured.

We have been working extremely hard in endeavouring to create the right environment and framework for a resolution of the protocol issue, which stems from the Brexit issue. Brexit was passed and we accept the decision of the British people but no one, particularly on the British Government side, properly thought through the implications of Brexit for the Good Friday Agreement itself or for relationships within the island of Ireland. The protocol was designed to be a resolution mechanism for those issues. In our view, the evidence now is increasingly showing, from talking to people in Northern Ireland industry, business, farming and agriculture, that the protocol is actually helping economic development in the North, particularly in terms of potential foreign direct investment, FDI. The signs are good and, in fact, investment queries are increasing because of the fact the protocol gives access to the European Single Market and the UK market. No one within Northern Ireland has said to us they want to be cut off from the Single Market.

I met Vice President Šefčovič in Washington and had lunch with him and Mr. Richard Neal, head of Friends of Ireland, again going through the efforts and initiatives of Vice President Šefčovič of this issue.

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