Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile said, there is a narrow window to agree to power-sharing in the North. As the political leaders have still not resolved their differences, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. James Brokenshire, could call another election or reintroduce direct rule. I understand all parties are working as closely as possible, but I am disappointed. I was at the funeral of Martin McGuinness last week when there was a symbolic political moment when the people in the church on the Bogside gave a very warm welcome to and applauded the leader of the DUP. It showed a huge degree of dignity and grace and I hope that good will and good feeling can be carried into the negotiations. We still have to work together.

Bill Clinton thanked the Taoiseach for what he had said in the United States on St. Patrick's Day on behalf of the undocumented Irish. It was incredible that we had an ex-President who was very close to the peace process acknowledging the Taoiseach's role. I repeat that the media in the Republic of Ireland did a great disservice to the words of the Taoiseach in the White House. The story eventually broke when Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and the New York Timesreported on how significant it was. Where were the members of the Irish media? They had one agenda, which was to say the St. Patrick's Day visit to the United States had been a failure. It was not; it was one of the great successes. The Taoiseach spoke on behalf of the undocumented Irish and great progress is being made on their behalf in the United States. I hope it will continue to be made.