David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is important that we have a debate in this House as soon as possible on the agreement in the North which has been reached by all parties and by both Governments. It is obviously good news that the institutions will remain in place. It is also good news that additional funding has been agreed - £550 million to help the most vulnerable citizens in the North. I note that as a result of the agreement, which was reached between Sinn Féin and the DUP and both Governments - both Governments were part of the negotiations and the talks - there is no increase in tuition fees, no bedroom tax and no water charges, and there is £585 million of additional funding to support the most vulnerable. I agree with Senator Cahill that we cannot merely put the blame for the welfare reform cuts and the fact that we do not have enough protections in this regard on the shoulders of the British Government. The Irish Government was also part of the negotiations. The Irish Government was not part of working with Sinn Féin to get a better deal for citizens in the North. The Government is co-guarantor of the agreement and it must take responsibility as well.

My party has in the past called for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to address the Seanad. It would be good if that could be achieved. I support the call from a number of Senators for that debate because it is a good agreement in as far as it goes. It is a step in the right direction. It protects the institutions and democracy in the North which is what we all want to see achieved, but there are some very tough decisions that will have to be made by everybody in the context of that agreement. We, in Sinn Féin, have not shirked our responsibilities. It would be a very useful debate to have in the near future.