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

Cothaíonn an cinneadh atá déanta ag Rialtas na Breataine easpa muiníne sa Rialtas sin ar fud na hEorpa agus i measc cheannairí na hEorpa. De réir dealraimh, is é an bunteachtaireacht atá ann anois ná go bhfuil sé chun an conradh seo a chur ar leataobh. Fundamentally, and it is with regret I say this, I get the sense that the current British Government does not fully get the Good Friday Agreement or does not understand the DNA of the agreement and what it really means in terms of its own involvement and the co-guarantor nature of the involvement between the British and Irish Governments, but also the wider interest from the European Union and the United States. Parallel with that, we are now witnessing a denial of democracy, whereby people have voted in Northern Ireland for the convening of an assembly and the formation of an Executive. It is not acceptable that the assembly has not been convened and that the Executive has not been formed.

We have had extensive contacts with the European Union in advance of this decision. It will remain resolute, firm and measured in terms of its response to the United Kingdom Government's decisions in this regard. Of that the Deputy can be in no doubt. We have maintained constant contact and are at one with the European Union in respect of how we respond to and deal with this latest decision by the British Government.

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