Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

-----in respect of legacy. There are aspects of the legacy Act that we do not agree with and are seeking to change. There is ongoing engagement between the Northern Ireland Office and our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Cabinet sub-committee has discussed this and the prospects of whether we can get a joint approach in respect of legacy that would be endorsed by both Governments. This work is currently under way.

On the other issues that were raised about the Good Friday Agreement, and to respond to Deputy Devlin, it is a living document, as Deputy Currie said as well. I would be open - I have put this idea forward in the context of the shared island - to see if there is a way we could develop a shared history programme. It may be an option for schools North and South to engage in. Is there a possibility to develop between academics North and South an approach to historical perspectives? People come from different communities with different perspectives on the histories. We did a lot of work during the decade of centenaries. A lot of good, informed history was written and updated, with new angles and new approaches to it. That could be informative to a younger generation. It is a worthy project.

See this speech in context