Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and the Bill. I was thinking as I listened to the Minister that he is taking benchmarking a little seriously because every time he is here, we have to be here and we may look for more.

This is a very important Bill because 30 years of violence have left a legacy of pain and distrust. It is understandable that pain and distrust would endure even while serious progress was being made. The history of the past six years has been one of great hope followed by severe disappointment. Notwithstanding all the current difficulties, the unfolding of the Good Friday Agreement has been immense. Over the past five years it has transformed the conditions of the people in Northern Ireland and relations on the island.

The principle of consent has now been accepted by all sides. The value of North-South co-operation is recognised universally. The strong partnership between both Governments in driving progress has demonstrated the value of good intergovernmental co-operation. There are still many difficulties to be overcome before we can have full implementation of the Agreement but the crux of the issue is the matter of trust.