Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

This motion is utterly sensible. It is asking the Government to prepare now for Irish unity - to have the citizens' assemblies, a dedicated Minister for Irish unity and an Oireachtas committee to pursue these issues. It is about being responsible. It is an exciting challenge. What type of health service will we have? What type of education system will we have? How do we protect unionists within a united Ireland? All these matters must be dealt with now before we have a referendum.

I want to point out positive examples that are happening right now in my region of the north west of Ireland. We had campaigners on both sides of the Border looking for cancer care close to their homes. They came out on the streets on both sides of the Border in Donegal and Derry and now we have a cancer centre at Altnagelvin Hospital - North West Cancer Centre - providing radiotherapy services to cancer patients throughout the region. That is about common sense, working together and breaking down the impact of the Border for our people. In our third level sector, our universities and colleges have a memorandum of understanding. They have an educational cluster working together making sure they add value to each other, maximise the opportunity for our young people and build investment in jobs in our region.

Our councils - Donegal County Council and Derry and Strabane District Council - have the North West City Region. They have been exemplars and leaders in working together in promoting the region. They market the region together. They are inspirational. The model for how we break down the impact of the Border, work together and talk about one region and one people using our resources wisely is there. It is happening as we speak. If we look at the chambers of commerce in Letterkenny, which essentially represents the county of Donegal, and in Derry, we can see they are working hand in hand in partnership to promote investment in jobs and co-operation in the region.

Across every sector we can think of, we are breaking down the Border and working together, so we need to get on with this. I do not know why Micheál Martin has this issue with Irish reunification - why he thinks it will be tomorrow, the next day or the next day. Let us do it now. This motion is utterly sensible. Let us get it passed and let us get on with the work.

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