David Norris (Independent)

I also welcome the Taoiseach, particularly because he is known as a good and humane negotiator. That is why I am so devastated by his speech and so utterly disappointed in it. I have to say that.

I hope the Taoiseach did not write his script. I have some tradition in language. In his speech there is praise for the SDLP. There is praise for Sinn Féin. There is praise for the IRA. I did not say Sinn Féin/IRA – I said praise for both of them separately. It contains legitimate and proper criticism and attack on the bestial attacks by loyalist paramilitaries, but there is not one single crumb of commendation in the entire speech for any strand of unionism. That seems to reflect a narrow tribalism that I deplore. It is regrettable. If I were a Northern Unionist, I would be out that door. It is a great pity and a missed opportunity. I hope this event is not recorded for transmission in the North of Ireland.

The Taoiseach referred to the British-Irish Agreement which, if it were proposed now, the Unionists would throw out, because there has been this single-minded attitude towards it. He referred to the difficulties of Unionists participating in government with Sinn Féin/IRA. His own Government said it would not do so until Sinn Féin got rid of its army.