Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Most, if not all, Members of the House will welcome the Taoiseach's visit last Friday to Ballymena, the heartland of the DUP and the First Minister's constituency. Its symbolism and significance cannot be underestimated. In many ways it illustrates the progress of the peace process and how the harmonisation and cultivation of relations on this island have developed. The Taoiseach's contribution to that, his personality and his commitment and dedication to resolving the issue have been remarkable. His personality in gaining the confidence of the unionist tradition in particular has been remarkable.

I contrast that with the recent revelations to which Senator Norris and others alluded yesterday and which the chief constable of the PSNI has also mentioned, namely, the threat of the dissident republicans. Everybody here would love to see the day when we have a united Ireland where all the people of the island of all traditions come together to govern themselves and to ensure all elements of society develop as we would like. That will happen only through the type of initiative and effort made by the Taoiseach not through paramilitary activities, which have failed.

I hope the attributes the Taoiseach has brought to this will be with us and available for many years to come because we are at least five or six years from bedding down this process.