Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment put forward by Senator MacSharry. I ask that the Leader request that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Flanagan, come to this Chamber prior to the recess to brief us on the shambles of the collapsed talks last week between the democratically elected British and Irish Governments. A recent article in the Irish Republican Newsby Mr. Brian Feeney, an esteemed observer and journalist in the North, whose opinion is well regarded states:

The responsibility for yesterday's debacle at Stormont lies scattered around the feet of our clueless proconsul. The slightest glance at the paper presented to the parties at 11pm on Thursday night - 'Paper for the Parties, a draft Agreement at Stormont' - shows conclusively that she was daft to encourage the Taoiseach and David Cameron to come to Belfast.

The issue of flags, parades and the past were never a priority of the draft agreement presented by the Secretary of State. The £1 billion offer by Prime Minister Cameron in respect of the North turned out to be a loan to be repaid with interest. In this regard, Mr. Peter Robinson said, "To bribe us with our own money is a bit short of what is required". Deputy Gerry Adams, described the talks as the most amateurish, hamfisted episode in which he had ever been involved.