Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Minister on the passage of the Bill in the Upper House. I am glad to see the non-partisan spirit throughout the debate. When Ireland was looking for home rule in the 19th century under Parnell, certain high Tory politicians said the Irish were not fit to govern themselves. Events in this Parliament as compared with our colleagues across the water would give the lie to that assertion. No doubt about it, we have conducted ourselves quite well and we have proven that we are able to govern ourselves on this side of the Border. Obviously a lacuna exists in the North and a very disappointing lack of commitment from the major parties in the North to putting a government in place up there.

We are at a crisis in the history of our country, probably the greatest crisis since what was termed the Emergency. I wish the Minister very well in the events that have to be played out. We hope for the very best, that the people in the Westminster Parliament will face the reality they are in and avoid plunging themselves and us and everybody else into the abyss. It is a good day's work.