Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to set my comments in the context of Senator Kevin Humphrey's earlier contribution, which were telling at a time of such significant political crisis in the North and potential for instability. I wonder was it the SDLP, or perhaps the remnants of the Sticks, who phoned him to let him know there was an election coming up and he had to get at Sinn Féin. Perhaps he would have the same view as Arlene Foster who tells us we are in for a brutal election campaign. It is telling that Senators would come into this House and make that type of contribution during the current climate in the North when we are trying to offer rational, coherent and responsible leadership.

It is important to put on the record that, unlike failed Deputies like Senator Humphreys, and current Senators, Sinn Féin MPs do not get a salary. They do not get any golden handshakes. They will not get a pension as a result of being elected. I remind Members that Sinn Féin MPs are mandated not to take their seats at Westminster. I wonder if Fine Gael is having a laugh when it issues press releases telling Sinn Féin MPs to take their seats in Westminster when they do not even bother to seek election in a significant part of our country. I remind them that we have bigger fish to fry at this time, and all our minds should be focused on that.We are mandated not to take seats in Westminster and unlike other parties we will not break promises we give to the electorate.

In terms of the situation in the North, one of the big things that has added to the recent tipping point has been the ongoing series of disrespectful words and also manifestations of disrespect from the DUP in recent months. That is most acutely seen in terms of its mistreatment, disregard and disrespect for the Irish language and the Irish speaking population. I acknowledge that the Minister is due to make a statement on the North on Thursday but as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, and in this case the St. Andrew's Agreement, the Irish speaking population in the North and the broader Nationalist family are extremely energised around this issue.

Ten years after the agreement, Edwin Poots of the DUP in a further indication of disrespect and disregard is now telling us that the DUP did not sign up to an Irish language Act as part of the St. Andrew's Agreement. The British Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, who recently told us that the British Government owns Lough Foyle in its entirety went on "Morning Ireland" today to say that we need to command cross-community confidence before we introduce an Irish language Act. They are already regressing and reversing the terms of that agreement of ten years ago. They are providing a cover for a Unionist veto on the issue. Members, some responsibly and others irresponsibly, are pointing to the added crisis as a result of Brexit. It is past time for the Government to cease being the hurler on the ditch. It needs to step up, be proactive and engaged, not just with the British Government, but also the population in the North. This crisis has not fallen from the skies. It has come as a result of ten years of disrespect. The situation has become intolerable in recent weeks and it is time all of us collectively told the DUP that the time for poking us in the eye is over and for us to tell the British Government that it can no longer provide political cover for that.