Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Do not let anyone ever again tell us that change is not possible because sometimes it happens right in front of our eyes. Saturday of last week was one of those days when change, once unimaginable, came dropping slow and then, all at once. For a Sinn Féin representative, a Northern republican and nationalist, and a proud Irish woman from rural County Tyrone to become First Minister in a state that was designed to oppress everything she stood for was quite simply considered fantasy by previous generations but it happened. When Michelle O'Neill stood up in the Assembly Chamber to promise that she would be First Minister for all, she was doing what many others said was impossible, not just a century or a decade ago, not just before the historic Assembly election results but even a fortnight ago.

There is a lesson in all of this, that we must never give up on change. We must never let those who seek to frustrate, deny or delay change tell us that it cannot be done. There is a lesson for those of us who want change in this State because, of course, there are those who will say that it has always been Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, or Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and therefore it will always be that way. There will be, and there are, those who say the housing crisis cannot be fixed or that our health services will always be in crisis. There will even be those who will try to convince that it makes no difference if there is a new government, that things will stay the same but those people are wrong. There can be change. In fact, change is happening and Sinn Féin is leading that change. Just like there were powerful voices who sought to frustrate Michelle O'Neill and the Sinn Féin team in the Assembly and prevent them from fulfilling their mandate, so too are there very powerful forces that will do everything to stop a government of change in this State. What happened in the North in the last few weeks has shown that when people demand change, when they work together to deliver it, it comes, first dropping slow and then, all at once. The message is clear - never, ever give up on change.

I got involved in politics because I want to help to deliver a united Ireland. I believe passionately that a united Ireland can be a better and fairer Ireland, that every person, family and community can be better served by a unitary Irish State without outside interference. That is an entirely legitimate aspiration and objective and the route to achieving it is set out in the Good Friday Agreement. Others have a diametrically opposing position and that is also legitimate. They are entitled to express that position as forcefully as they see fit but it is not legitimate to deny anyone the right to advocate for their constitutional ambition. Likewise, it is not legitimate for parties in this House who say that they agree that a united Ireland would be a better Ireland but then refuse to support any initiative to actually advance it. The establishment of a Northern Executive under the leadership of a Sinn Féin First Minister is just the latest development that points to change happening, that points to Irish unity. It reinforces what was already evident and those who refuse to plan, debate and engage are being as reckless as those Brexiteers who said they had an ambition but no plan to actually achieve it. Sometimes change cannot be stopped. It can occur in a planned or an unplanned way but to maximise the benefits of Irish unity for everybody who shares this island, Sinn Féin wants it to be a planned process, involving all of us working together.

There is no contradiction in anything I have just said with Sinn Féin's absolute commitment to work with all parties in the Executive and Assembly to deliver for every community across the North. I welcome the fact that this week the Assembly supported Sinn Féin's motions to make affordable and accessible childcare a key priority in the lifetime of this Assembly and to protect Lough Neagh, among other issues. Sinn Féin is absolutely determined to work with all parties in the North to ensure that the citizens of the North are served and that the absolutely despicable under-funding of public services by successive British Governments is addressed.

I welcome the fact that Sinn Féin has key ministerial portfolios in terms of finance, the economy, and infrastructure. They will be at the centre of driving the economic changes so desperately needed and in maximising the access to markets to deliver on the all-Ireland economy and to advance regional development and job creation. I know that because I come from a community that will benefit from all of those initiatives. I come from a Border community that has suffered as a result of Partition just as much as people in the counties across the Border. That is why I welcome the announcement that I am told is imminent on the developments in terms of the A5 road project. This is a crucially important infrastructural development. It is important at particular stretches to protect the people who have to drive on that route. Overall, this road can become a key economic driver for a region that has been neglected for far too long.

I must say to the Tánaiste when he is here that it is absolutely imperative that the Irish Government funds the A5 because communities in Donegal, Monaghan, and across this State will benefit.

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