Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Recent developments regarding the welfare Bill in Northern Ireland are deeply disappointing. It would be a great shame if the gains of the Stormont House Agreement were compromised or whittled down as a result of this apparent impasse.

We know that the First Minister, Peter Robinson and the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, have travelled or are travelling to the United States. I hope they will avail of that opportunity to resolve matters. We hope that Sinn Féin and the DUP, in the wider context, will avail of the time and space now to get to grips with this matter and resolve it quickly. We had understood that these matters were all encompassed by the Stormont House Agreement and that matters were agreed. We do not want to think about what could happen, the damaging impact or the wider implications if this matter is not resolved. The Government here wants to do everything possible to support efforts in good faith but it is up to the parties in Northern Ireland to resolve the matter. We do not want to think of what could happen if its not resolved. Nobody wants to see a breakdown in the agreement.