Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A number of colleagues have already referenced what happened in the North last night in terms of the bonfires and what was depicted upon them. While I was incredibly saddened by the image of the late Martin McGuinness and others, I was not surprised given the history of these particular powers. They have become a manifestation of the lack of respect and equality that Sinn Féin has been talking about in a political context over the past number of months. The unionist parties and unionist leaders have gone to ground. They are more than willing to take endorsement from Loyalist paramilitaries in advance of elections but when it comes to this issue, they are reluctant to go on the airwaves. The last public statement I heard Arlene Foster make was to oppose an Irish language Act because it would risk cultural supremacy without a hint of irony in terms of what is being forced upon many communities. I feel sorry for my unionist and loyalist neighbours who have to endure these health and safety risks and have these disgusting, racist, xenophobic, sectarian depictions inflicted upon them. This mindset is one of the reasons Sinn Féin has stood firm and said there can be no return to the status quounless there is an end to disrespect and inequality.

I note the very sincere and genuine comments made by Senator Craughwell in his contribution. Another issue on which Sinn Féin has stood firm is the legacy issue and the need for conclusion and resolution for all of those victims, all of the complexities and all of the different experiences. We have said that the British Government's veto around national security is not good enough and that funds must be released to deal with legacy inquests and inquiries and to deal precisely with the type of impassioned experience outlined by Senator Craughwell. It is a shame that some parties are telling Sinn Féin to park those issues, to forget about them and to set them aside in order to return to what went before and what passed for the status quo. Sinn Féin will not be doing that for all of the reasons I have outlined and for all of the reasons Members know we have good reason and cause not to.