Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I begin by condemning utterly the threats that were made against Jeffrey Donaldson and that he spoke about in the House of Commons yesterday. There is no room on any part of this island or anywhere else for threats of physical violence against any political person.

Does the Tánaiste agree with me that the Northern Ireland governance framework which was so hard-won over so many years has been totally undermined by the suspension for two years of a working assembly and Executive. I underscore the point as to what is plan B. We cannot have permanent pushback. The Tánaiste indicated that there is a further deadline of 8 February. Is he of the view that we should just keep pushing matters back or is this a real deadline? If so, what is plan B if nothing has occurred by that date?

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