Over many years people's spirits were deadened because they had no direct involvement in the governance of Northern Ireland, apart from from those involved at local level. However, people like Martin McGuinness, Peter Robinson and Bríd Rodgers were appointed as Government Ministers; going about their daily business as Ministers meant they were pivotal forces in the community and centrepieces for people's concerns. The MLAs did their democratic business and it all knitted together in a wholesome way. Of course it was not Pollyanna time; every action did not have a rosy hue. That would be nonsense because no democracy operates in Pollyanna fashion. However, there was a comprehensive approach to the daily activities in Northern Ireland, many of which were linked to daily activities in the Republic. It also made economic sense, which is the key consideration when one leaves aside Nationalist considerations and the worries of various other parties. For example, Sir Reg Empey dealt with me and the Tánaiste – he had a woman on each arm – and we had a very satisfactory arrangement regarding the refurbishment of the gas interconnector outside Dundalk and the whole gas project for North and South. The Cabinet pledged money to this project over three years.