Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

Slowly but surely, matters are progressing and there will be no going back. I welcome the agreement between the DUP and Sinn Féin on the restoration of devolved institutions on 8 May. With Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley expressing their willingness to work together, we are looking towards a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of the Six Counties. Gone are the days when Unionists dominated the political landscape, gerrymandered elections and discriminated against the Catholic population in housing, jobs and voting rights. The change of heart has not only been on the part of Unionists but also among republicans. The acceptance of the PSNI was a great step towards normalisation.

On 26 March, Gerry Adams stated:

The relationships between the people of this island have been marred by centuries of discord, conflict, hurt and tragedy. In particular this has been the sad history of Orange and Green. Now there is a new start with the help of God.

Sinn Féin is about building a new relationship between Orange and Green and all the other colours where every citizen can share and have equality of ownership of a peaceful, prosperous and just future. [...] I am pleased to say that collectively we have created the potential to build a new harmonious and equitable relationship between nationalist and republicans and unionists and all of the rest of the people of the island of Ireland.

For his part, Ian Paisley stated:

Our goal has been to see devolution returned in a context where it can make a real and meaningful improvement in the lives of all the people of this part of the United Kingdom. [...] We are committed to playing a full part in all the institutions and delivering the best future for all of the people of Northern Ireland. [...] Devolution has never been an end in itself but is about making a positive difference to people's lives, I want to make it clear that I am committed to delivering not only for those who voted for the DUP, but for all the people of Northern Ireland. We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future for our children.

These are the remarkable words of these gentlemen who not very long ago hardly acknowledged the other existed, never mind spoke to or communicated with one another. One may have seen on television that when the Taoiseach and Dr. Paisley met today, Dr. Paisley's hand was outstretched as he walked towards the Taoiseach. It was a great moment and we must give credit where it is due.

I always stated the way to make the Border disappear was to make it irrelevant and this is what is happening through North-South co-operation, which will continue. The Government's National Development Plan 2007-2013 includes a comprehensive statement of Government policy on North-South co-operation. All-island collaboration is a key horizontal theme of the plan. For the first time, the plan contains proposals for significant Irish Government investment in North-South projects and initiatives for mutual benefit.

The proposed package, which will be funded from the overall national development plan envelope, includes plans for joint investment in new strategic projects to benefit North and South and the opening up of access to existing development funds on an all-island basis and-or the introduction of new, agreed joint funding measures with the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive upon restoration.

This process has had many beginnings and at times it was two steps forward and one step back or one step forward and two steps back. This is another beginning and it is most welcome. For it to succeed, any task must begin with an end in mind. We will never forget the end in mind of the re-unification of Ireland and the removal of all vestiges of British imperialism from every part of a new 32-county republic. It will be a long time coming or perhaps it will not be that long. As politicians in this part of the country, it is our task to make a new Ireland a place with no discrimination on any grounds, where Unionists will feel free to live and participate and in this way we will have a peaceful future. It may take a long time but there is no going back now.