Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the family of the late Mr. Cormac Ó Braonáin. Cormac was the chairperson of Labour Youth and I know that the Labour Party family will miss him greatly. I offer my condolences on his death.

The second issue I wish to raise is the recent British election. I congratulate all of the MPs who were elected, particularly in the North. There are some new faces now, which I very much welcome. However, this week the focus of attention must turn to Stormont. One message coming from last week's election, particularly in the North of Ireland, is that the political paralysis caused by the lack of institutions in the North cannot continue. The voters gave a clear message in that regard, with votes for Sinn Féin and the DUP down on the previous election. There is a real need to get the institutions back up and running in the North before the deadline of 13 January 2020. On the ground, schools do not have budgets to meet basic requirements such as special needs assistants and hospital waiting lists are increasing. We think we have problems with the latter down here but the figures in the North are spiralling out of control. People are waiting for years. There are real issues about which people are concerned in places like Magherafelt and Maghera that must be addressed. The only way they can be addressed is through democratic and accountable decision-making at Stormont, rather than having civil servants running day-to-day operations in the Six Counties, with no decisions being taken, effectively. Sinn Féin has been arguing over the Irish language issue and while I agree with its position, the fact that Stormont is not up and running means that Foras na Gaeilge is not even operational. Basic requirements can only be resolved by getting the institutions back up and running. In that context, I commend the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney on his work. It is essential that both the Irish and British Governments put as much pressure as possible on the parties in the North to get the institutions back up and running, for once and for all.