Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Senator objected to being interrupted and I should not be interrupted. Sinn Féin has its reasons for not playing a part here. I do not understand those reasons. My party had to bite some serious bullets when Éamon de Valera came here to Leinster House in 1927. It was most unpalatable for the party but the members did it for the good of the country. Where would the country be if they had not? Daniel O'Connell went to the House of Commons. Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt went in, as well as John Dillon and John Redmond. They all played a part. It will be very serious for this country if the only voice to be heard, with a compelling say in the matter because of its votes, comes from the Democratic Unionist Party. It will be very sad day for Ireland and it is an awfully backward step.

My leader is addressing a conference on Brexit at Queen's University in Belfast currently, emphasising the total decay of many of the best points achieved in the Good Friday Agreement. These include North-South talks and that the relationship between this country and the United Kingdom is at an all-time low when it should be stronger than ever. We do not have an assembly up there. Many people have much explaining to do here and, without pointing the finger at anybody, we know some of those people.