Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To follow on from my party colleague, Deputy Ó Murchú, there is an opportunity here and we hope the Taoiseach, having returned to the office, will grasp it with the shared island unit. We call on the Government to consider a citizens' assembly on Irish unity because we believe we need to plan for this. We are not looking to push any community to where they do not want to go. The Taoiseach last week made some very conciliatory comments when he reached out to the unionist community, and that is what we want to do as well. We want to reach out to them and engage with them because we have a vision and, obviously, they have their vision. Our vision is for a united Ireland, and we feel that by having the conversation, we will not push people but engage with them in a positive way to put down their thoughts and feelings along with ours. We need the Executive up and running. I canvassed in the North last year for the Northern Ireland Assembly election. It was an unbelievable election, and I saw Michelle O'Neill emerge as the leader of the Assembly, a position that has not been confirmed but which she obtained because of her fabulous election performance. We believe that with the Taoiseach's support and that of the other parties in the North, we can get the Assembly up and running. It is really important. As Deputy Boyd Barrett said, things that need to happen in the North are being held up because the Executive is not operating, and we have to work on that.

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