Joe O'Toole (Independent)

During the debate last night I stated I felt grossly uncomfortable with the motion, even though I agreed with everything in it, and argued that we should look forward. We should not over-react to yesterday's statement. Sinn Féin has found itself in a cul-de-sac and like any cornered animal it is looking for a way out and trying to win back ground lost since the previous juncture. The decision to take an offer off the table is a perfectly predictable move to which there should not be an over-reaction. We should not respond by saying, "Woe is us".

Far from the Taoiseach producing a definitive, irreversible, irrevocable statement, it is far better for him to say nothing at this point and work instead behind the scenes to determine how we can move the process forward. Last night I argued that the way to do this — I may be wrong — is to build at community level and in civic society to try to reconstruct political engagement over the next 18 to 25 months.

The necessary hard talking has taken place and the other side has given its reaction. That phase is over and everybody who speaks from this point onwards should have a proposal which will bring us closer to getting the peace process back on the rails. We must continue to remind ourselves that a ceasefire is in place and the leaders of Sinn Féin, however much we have criticised them, have made considerable progress. I do not speak for them, having been one of their greatest critics, but we need balance in this debate if we are to move the process forward. It is time to draw breath and examine where we will go next.

During all the negotiations in which I have participated in the past 17 years, the involvement in society of people with special needs or of different ability has been a major issue. The private sector needs to match the public sector in ensuring that at least 3% of the workforce are people from such a background. I ask the House to recognise the award given to Senator Quinn last night for giving the lead in this area in the private sector. It is a major advance and the Senator is entitled to have it recognised. I hope he will continue to focus his energies in that direction and will not feel a need to top the poll in the next election. He has done well.