Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his assurances. One of the defining moments in our recent history was the constitutional settlement of Northern Ireland, on which people North and South of the Border voted. I do not think it should be undermined for any short-term political expediency in Westminster. As the Minister rightly said, human rights formed an integral part of that treaty not only as a safeguard against unwelcome acts within the Assembly, but also because this gave the people of Northern Ireland an assurance there was an independent force at play to prevent the descent into the sectarianism of the past. I welcome the fact the Minister will be working closely with the British Government on this because I think it an area of concern.