Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Whether it is under Sunningdale or the Good Friday Agreement, power sharing is an essential part of reconciliation and building a shared future. Communities work together for communities, solving problems, creating opportunities, building the future and showing that democracy works. After three years of unnecessary deadlock and political impasse, it is vital that these powers be protected.

It is hard not to come to the conclusion that the British Government has anything other than poor regard for commitments to the North. It is undermining the Good Friday Agreement, overriding the withdrawal agreement and reneging on the Stormont House Agreement, but we must continue to work for a trade deal and all communities and continually commit ourselves to reconciliation. As parliamentarians, it is essential that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, in building relationships in the North and South and the east and west be prioritised and resumed. As parliamentarians, we should build awareness by building relationships with our UK and Northern counterparts. I urge this House to advocate for the institutions and the crucial interaction I have described.

Our Government stands in stark contrast with that of the United Kingdom in its preparation with the business community. The Brexit Readiness Action Plan, which the Minister, Deputy Coveney, spoke about, helps businesses to prepare to reduce the impact of Brexit. We must continue to plan for every outcome.

Now is not the time to goad unionists or Conservatives about border polls. Only those who seek to harden positions on all sides would take such a stand. An imminent border poll would be a misstep for anyone committed to true and lasting unification and reconciliation on the island. When identity politics is played, locally or unilaterally, everyone loses. Breaking the law, bending the truth and acting in bad faith are not the actions of a democratic government. Instead, peace, stability, friendship, partnership, joint interests, certainty for our communities and businesses should be reflected in the words and actions of a responsible government committed to its obligations under law and its responsibility to all of its people.