Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I think we will agree yesterday's Windsor Framework announcement represents a breakthrough and a chance to restore the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, and I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement that he will provide briefings to Opposition parties. I would ask that that might be done this week given the statements are to be taken, as we understand, in Government time next week. As Claire Hanna MP, a member of our sister party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, has said, the framework announcement can be heralded as a way forward for those genuinely interested in consensus and prosperity.

We are concerned by the tone of reception from certain quarters, even though we see a perceived improvement in relations between the Governments across the two islands. If we listen to some members of the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, the tone is jarring with the more conciliatory words that have been spoken by Jeffrey Donaldson. As one of the custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, is the Taoiseach concerned we are seeing the emergence of a hard-line unionist veto and that the Stormont brake may function to enable that sort of veto?

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