Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have got this Bill through the House. From my study of history, the Emergency was during the Second World War and Britain finding itself in a very difficult situation. The emergency now is of their own making, a self-inflicted loss. There is a sadness throughout Europe and certainly in this country. We have a great job of work from here on in, and I congratulate the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade who has led very well. We need to plan for ourselves. Parnell said: "No man has the right to say to his country 'Thus far shalt thou go and no further'". This is time for a Border poll, for Irish unity to be top, front and centre on the table, and let no man or woman say that we should not do it, that we need to be cautious. I urge Members to read Brian Feeney of the SDLP in TheIrish News this morning, who called for one as well because it will be three years at least before we will even have a poll if we call it today. It is our way forward, our strength. It is about this island and our shared space. It is about having confidence and pride in ourselves and the ability to know that we can negotiate and look after our neighbours. We can feel sympathy, but at the end of the day, we cannot stop somebody who is intent on self harm that the British people have brought to themselves. There is a sadness, but we are on the right track. The next step is a Border poll.