Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mar a dúirt roinnt daoine eile cheana féin, tá sé thar a bheith maith a bheith ar ais chun na cúrsaí seo a phlé inniu.

I want to draw the attention of the Leader and Members to the welcome news of an agreement that was reached in north Belfast relating to outstanding contentious parades between the Crumlin and Ardoyne residents association and local lodges of the loyal orders. On behalf of my party, I commend the two mediators who were involved in those discussions, the Rev. Harold Good and Mr. Jim Roddy, both of whom, along with others, have played a key role in navigating what I am sure everyone will appreciate have been difficult and choppy waters in that part of the city relating to the parading issue and what has become known as Camp Twaddell.The agreement itself offers the opportunity and has the potential to be transformative both for the specific bespoke issues faced by the community in north Belfast and for those communities dealing with what I stress are the last few issues of contentious loyal order parades. I am, however, disappointed - I am sure Members will share this disappointment - but not entirely surprised that some have sought to rally against this positive agreement. When negativity and regression is one's raison d'être, that really is all one has to offer one's local community and what a sad reflection that is. However, Members should take the opportunity to send a clear message from this House that they support and seek to bolster localised dialogue and resolution to contentious parades and that as Members, they stand ready to support where appropriate the facilitation of that dialogue and those resolutions.