Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and take this opportunity, as Leader, to congratulate him for all he did for the safe return of Sharon Commins and her friend. I wish the Minister well, along with GOAL and all those who worked hard on this matter. I also wish the Minister well with regard to Father Sinnott. We all hope and pray that he will return to his congregation and his family in the not too distant future.

I have served with many eminent Members of the House from Northern Ireland. The first Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon, was a Member of this House in 1982, as were former Senators John Robb, Brid Rodgers, Gordon Wilson - who we all loved and respected - Edward Haughey, Maurice Hayes and Sam McAughtry. All made an immense contribution over the past 28 years. As a member of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the British-Irish Council, it is great to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs in this House to listen to the statements of Members on Northern Ireland.

It is important to recognise the progress made in recent years in Northern Ireland and that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are becoming firmly embedded. Northern Ireland is experiencing a period of sustained stability and promise but there is more to be done. Since the restoration of the institutions in 2007, the Executive and the Assembly have been dealing with the day-to-day issues of Government and representing the needs of all the people of Northern Ireland. Responsibility for jobs, health care, transport and education now lies with the Executive. This is an important step in normalising Northern Ireland's society. It is our sincere hope that policing and justice powers will also be devolved shortly.

As the Minister outlined to the House, elements of the Good Friday Agreement and the commitments made at St. Andrews remains outstanding. It is vital that we step up our efforts to ensure these are implemented.

I draw to the attention of the House to the need for an Irish language Act for Northern Ireland. The British Government committed to an Irish language Act at St. Andrews. This is now a devolved matter, dealt with by the Executive and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. An Irish language Act will provide a meaningful framework for the Irish language in Northern Ireland. Irish is part of our living culture as well as an integrated part of our shared history. An Irish language Act will ensure that it is part of our shared future, for all to appreciate and enjoy.

The Minister has spoken about the importance of relationships and, as parliamentarians, we have a significant role to play. At the East-West level the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which just met for the 38th time, goes from strength to strength. A good relationship between Ireland and Britain remains essential to the stability of Northern Ireland but the relationship has grown so much beyond that. The assembly has played an important part in helping to develop and deepen relations on an East-West basis and foster co-operation, collegiality and camaraderie. The participation of representatives from the DUP and UUP at the assembly is particularly welcome and is a further sign of how far we have come. When we met, we meet as equals with the aim of improving relations and opening new channels of communication.

Considering the North-South dimension, I am pleased the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has been up and running for almost two years and has made a valuable contribution. I am mindful that Members of the Oireachtas are tasked, along with our colleagues in the Assembly, with making progress towards a North-South parliamentary forum and I look forward to further positive developments in this regard. In these economically challenging times, effective North-South co-operation is crucial. It is heartening that, through the North-South Ministerial Council, the Government is co-operating with the Executive to deliver effective services for people on both sides of the Border. There is great scope for further co-operation on a North-South basis. The potential to deliver services and efficiencies is immense.

Colleagues on all sides of the House, but particularly Fianna Fáil Members, are strongly of the view that, as expressed in our submission for Seanad reform, we should examine the possibility of entering an arrangement with the Northern legislative Assembly, whereby the Assembly and Seanad Éireann would exchange the right of audience of up to ten members of each of the sittings. This would involve the right of audience with no voting rights. I endorse that and look forward to the day when colleagues from the Executive will address this House and vice versa.

One of the most heartening appointments Barack Obama made was the appointment of Senator Hillary Clinton as the United States Secretary of State. She will be the person representing America in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State visited Dublin and Belfast on 11 and 12 October. Secretary Of State Clinton met the President, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Dublin. In Belfast she met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, delivered an address to the Assembly, officially reopened the city hall and spoke at a business event at Queen's University. In her speech to the Assembly, she urged the parties to move forward with the devolution process and reminded the Assembly of its duties to lead Northern Ireland responsibly. She drew particular attention to the link between peaceful stability and economic development and reiterated the commitment of the United States Administration to Northern Ireland. I look forward to the day when we will see Senator Clinton addressing this House on matters of importance for North-South, the Good Friday Agreement and the British-Irish Council. In my lifetime as a Member of this House, outside of the membership of Dáil Eireann and Seanad Éireann no one has done more for the peace initiative in Ireland than former US President, Mr. Clinton. I look forward to the Secretary of State playing a role in the meaningful way in which the Clintons have been accustomed to doing. I reassure the Minister of the support of Seanad Éireann in seeking to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.