Shane Ross (Independent)

I was struck by what Senator ÓMurchú said and it should be echoed on this side of this House. The recent leak to the newspapers which raised the possibility of it being somehow embedded in the agreement that we would have representatives from Northern Ireland in this House has been interpreted as somehow slipping terrorists into the House. If that were so, all of us would condemn it and protect ourselves from any such element of a deal.

In the past, this House has been a proud debater of Northern Ireland specifically because it has people from the extraordinarily different traditions which make up Ireland. We should exploit that rather than fight shy of it. For all its faults, one of the great talents or bonuses of this House has been those Members from Northern Ireland appointed by successive Taoisigh. They have come from both traditions and have made a tremendous contribution to understanding between Members of the Irish Parliament.