Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The agreement struck between the European Commission and the British Government on the protocol last month represents a real breakthrough and preserves protections for Ireland that were very hard won. The agreement safeguards the all-Ireland economy, preserves access to the European Single Market, protects the Good Friday Agreement and guarantees that there will be no return to a hard border on our island. It shields Ireland from the sharpest edges of Brexit. The deal is grounded in workable, durable solutions that are good for business and trade, for growing jobs and opportunities, and for attracting investment. It is a positive outcome for our people, for our peace, for our political stability and for economic success.

In the immediate aftermath of agreement on the protocol, our message was that we needed to keep the positive momentum going. The upcoming meeting of the European Council presents an opportunity to do just that and to press home Ireland's interests with our European partners. Yesterday, EU member states endorsed the deal. The Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Jessika Roswall, who chaired the sitting of the General Affairs Council, said:

The agreement on the ... Framework is a truly positive achievement ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. It will benefit people and businesses in Northern Ireland and should allow the EU and the UK to open a new chapter in our relations.

It is now expected that the agreement will pass through the legislative process at Westminster. This paves the way for legal ratification of the deal at the meeting of the EU-British joint committee scheduled for Friday in London, to which the Taoiseach referred.

After years of impasse, progress is finally happening. A way forward has been found. It is now the responsibility of everyone in political leadership to make the benefits of the agreement real for people. Moving forward together must mean the immediate restoration of the Executive and the Assembly in the North. Sinn Féin and the First Minister designate, Michelle O'Neill, stand ready today to lead an Executive for all. It will be an Executive that will focus on seizing economic opportunities and creating new jobs. It will work to better people's lives and it will work for everyone. Therefore, Jeffrey Donaldson's statement today, reiterating a refusal to enter government, a refusal to establish the Assembly and a continued boycott of the political institutions, is unacceptable. The people of the North have been without a government for nearly a year and have endured the impact of an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.

In truth, there now exists no excuse for the blocking of the formation of an Executive. People in the North are entitled to have a government that works for all communities, delivers health services and supports workers, families and business through a very challenging time. The vast majority of people in the North see that agreement on the protocol is very positive and they want the parties around the Executive table. They want a government up and working for them and dealing with the issues that affect their lives. From the floor of the Dáil, I again encourage all parties to join us and get down to the crucial business of delivering for people. This is an opportunity to renew the spirit of progress and partnership. We can deliver a good power-sharing government for people on the basis of equality, respect and parity of esteem. Martin McGuinness made it work. Ian Paisley made it work. I believe we can move on together and make power-sharing a success once more. We can make politics work for everyone if we choose to do so.

This must be the vision as we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next month. The very best way, the only way really, to mark this historic milestone is to have a functioning Executive and Assembly up and running. This is a time for ambition, for hope and for progress. Our European partners played a vital role 25 years ago in the success of the peace process and the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement. They have stood unwaveringly by Ireland during the turbulent years of very difficult Brexit negotiations. We thank them for that. I have no doubt we will again have their support as we seek to restore the North's political institutions, and that together we can chart a course for a better future for all our people.

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