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

I am very clear that we need the restoration of the Executive and the Assembly as quickly as possible, in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and as a validation of democracy. In any normal society or situation, when people go to the ballot box and vote in an election, it is followed by the convening of a parliament and the formation of a government.

We have made our position very clear on the legacy Bill. We are not waiting an undue length of time. There is a very set time which gives us significant timeframes in which to make a decision based on legal advice we will receive on any action on the legal front that we might take on an inter-state case. Any proper consideration of that has to await the passing through of the legislation. It only recently received royal assent. The fully completed Bill must be assessed in the interests of a comprehensive analysis.

See this speech in context