Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The situation that has developed in Northern Ireland has the potential to cause political instability and we see this happening with a great sense of disappointment. This can only be to the benefit of those on both sides who do not want politics to work. It has the potential to see us go back to the bad old days of conflict, with the darkness that it entailed.

I pay tribute to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, for the manner in which he has handled the situation from the Government's perspective. He is making a positive contribution to ensure the Assembly and the Executive will continue to function and offer a democratic alternative in Northern Ireland to the mindless and unfortunate decades of violence we all had to endure.

There are many issues still to be sorted out such as the legacies of the past. Many groups with outstanding issues will address tomorrow's meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. They will look for movement and some closure. It is often said Northern Ireland politicians are impossible and stuck in the past. For some, this is undoubtedly true. However, we should also take time to consider the unbelievable burden of history that they face when trying to move things forward, even for those who sometimes appear to be intransigent in their views. A fellow once said to Lester Piggott, "I thought you were going to come there, Lester," to which he replied, "Well, you can't come without the horse." Sometimes it is difficult for those concerned to leave their people, but most are actually trying to do this. It is not easy, however, to move the tectonic plates to progress. In that sense, I welcome the comments of Senator Sean D. Barrett who referred to the launch last week of a book entitled, Uncomfortable Conversations. I was not able to attend the event, but I did read about it. I was pleased to hear Deputy Gerry Adams, with whom I do not often agree, say the united Ireland which might happen might not be the one we had envisaged historically. He was talking about inclusion. The British ambassador, Mr. Dominick Chilcott, said one could not expect republicans to become unionists or vice versa. We are looking at inclusion, which is why this morning I raised the issue of a Sinn Féin councillor and general election candidate in Donaghmede who was calling the hierarchy in rugby West Brits. There is no hierarchy of Irishness. I am not saying any of the three Sinn Féin Senators present would ever do this; I do not believe they would. However, it is important for us - no matter who says these things, whether it be a Fine Gaeler or a Sinn Féiner - to let them know that we are moving on. Even if the conversations are uncomfortable, we want to have them. That is why we need to get the institutions up and moving fully again to sort out the things that need to be sorted out.

It should be remembered that sometimes the process is as important as the product. Often it is more important and significant. As someone who lives in a Border area, I would like to see an enhanced task force to deal with criminal activities, including diesel laundering, petrol stretching and cigarette smuggling. I will not say who is at it because I do not know, but we do know who people say is at it.