Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

Members should be careful with what they say in the House and should be conscious they will be listened to North and South of the Border. We are trying hard to create a situation whereby the DUP will be willing to enter Government with Sinn Féin. This will only happen under certain stringent conditions, including that paramilitarism ceases in all its forms. It is unhelpful to suggest that even if all that happens, that a priori on principle Sinn Féin will still be ineligible for Government. We must separate out two issues. There is the issue of eligibility to be in Government in conformity with constitutional requirements, and there is the separate issue of whether there is policy compatibility between parties that would make them want or not want to go into coalition. The parties in Government at present are likely to go before the electorate and seek re-election in two to three years time, and I believe they have a very good chance of being re-elected.