David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Tánaiste to the House. I remind him that we have invited the Taoiseach to come to the Seanad as well. There are many questions we would like to ask him. Perhaps the Tánaiste might use his influence to ensure the Taoiseach comes here.

The Tánaiste mentioned the good work that is being done on North-South and east-west relations. He will be aware that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, appeared before the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement earlier today. It has been a good and historic day. Many outstanding aspects of the Good Friday Agreement need to be implemented. There needs to be an all-Ireland bill of rights, an all-Ireland civic consultative forum and a truth and reconciliation process. The Tánaiste might be aware that Martin McGuinness has called for a referendum on a united Ireland to take place after the lifetime of the current Assembly, by which time there will have been two full terms. It would be important to give the people of the North an opportunity to vote on their future in a referendum. I would like to hear the Tánaiste's thoughts on those issues.