Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and am pleased he was able to attend the House to listen to the views of Senators regarding the new beginning in the North of Ireland. I am privileged to recall the speeches made by my late father in these Houses on this issue. We have reached a new dawn and I commend the efforts made by the Taoiseach and the Minister on steering this process from the time of the Good Friday Agreement. Their work was never easy. Who would have thought Dr. Paisley would today visit Farmleigh House to shake hands and discuss the future with the Taoiseach?

This is a victory for politics and politicians across the board. Throughout the past eight decades, Members of the Oireachtas have discussed this issue. It is a victory for Dr. Paisley and Mr. Adams that the power of politics is playing a role in conquering intolerance, bitterness and hatred. Politics is a noble profession and, if politicians North and South had moved on or were made to feel they had nothing to contribute, we would not now be discussing the new state in the North of Ireland. I would like the media to give praise where it is due because all of us have made a contribution towards improving the quality of life for those in the North.

The leaders in the North are taking responsibility for finding the path to a new era. The debate will no longer be about republicanism versus unionism or who shot who. The important issues will be education, health, crime and North-South co-operation in the areas of electricity, agriculture and transport. Those are the areas in which I want to be involved and we have a golden opportunity to make progress.

This is only the beginning and there will be bumpy steps along the way. On many occasions, Dr. Paisley will pull back before proceeding on new projects. However, all sides have come to realise this is a workable arrangement. The debate is now about our all-island future. We have stability and peace and we could have prosperity in the North and the South. I hope our leaders will continue to play a role in that regard.