Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I believe the involvement of the Democratic Unionist Party with the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, even if only as guests and visitors in Killarney during the week, was a very significant step which has been understated to a significant extent by the media. People appear to have forgotten that no Unionist party has previously involved itself with the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body. This is a major step forward and should be seen as such. We hope the party will move further.

I also wish to refer to the Easter Sunday commemoration and to build on the point made by Senator Brian Hayes. There was an even more significant point to the occasion. For the first time ever, Sinn Féin was on the reviewing platform outside the GPO on Easter Sunday acknowledging the members of the Irish Army marching down O'Connell Street, wearing their cap and lapel badges, as Óglaigh na hÉireann. It is the first time since 1926 that Sinn Féin acknowledged Óglaigh na hÉireann as being the Irish Army. That is the truly significant issue.

I also agree that the second parade of balaclavas, black berets and so forth looked tired and very yesterday, as it were, and that is how it should be seen. That day has passed and we have moved on. I welcome the fact that Sinn Féin acknowledged Óglaigh na hÉireann on O'Connell Street on Easter Sunday as the true and absolute successors of the patriots of 1916. I speak as somebody who also wanted the parade to involve more than the Army.