John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a real privilege to be able to follow that very strong contribution from a fellow Border politician. When I looked around the room earlier, it was good to see so many politicians from the Border discussing this, Senator Martin was one before he excommunicated himself to Kildare. Joking aside, this is a really good debate. It is a very respectful and important debate and one which it is good to sit back and listen to.

The reinforcement of the existing institutions and the provision of stable and productive governance in Stormont is pivotal. The Good Friday Agreement is the building block on which Northern Ireland as a post-conflict society can be built and create economic prosperity and opportunity particularly for its young people, the children of the Good Friday Agreement. The shared island unit which has come before the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is a very positive initiative and one which can start the dialogue on the future of this island. I urge the next leader of the DUP and the Northern Ireland First Minister to engage with the unit and contribute to its work as we seek to build a shared island. Equally, I hope that we can work with the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party in this initiative. The previous speaker was correct in saying that unionism is at a very sensitive crossroads which every one should recognise, but whatever the outcomes, the change in leadership in unionism in Northern Ireland is a great opportunity to re-set relations. I call on both unionist parties to engage as much as possible with the Irish Government.

On Senator Black's amendment, I agree absolutely that we have to start a process where we prepare for the possibility of constitutional change. In a new Ireland I would see a dynamic, globalised and entrepreneurial nation right at the heart of Europe. While a citizens' assembly is a welcome initiative, the obvious challenge, as Senator Black will be aware as she also sits on the Good Friday Agreement committee, is trying to engage with and get unionism to participate in it. How we can do that needs to be considered. Such a forum would have the potential to resolve some of the sensitive issues involved over identity and legacy. I am also gravely concerned at the suggestion that the British Government's plan to unilaterally grant an amnesty for crimes committed during the Troubles.All victims should have the right to seek justice for their loved ones if they wish to do so. The Stormont House Agreement, signed in 2015, outlined the commitment of the British and Irish Governments and Northern Irish leaders to investigate all killings related to the Troubles. Breaking this agreement would be a significant breach of trust. In a post-conflict society like Northern Ireland, dealing with the issues of legacy and seeking to resolve injustices is the only way to heal the societal wounds. I was wary when I saw that Boris was sending gunboats to Jersey while this was leaked to newspapers. Considering the resignation of Johnny Mercer as the junior Minister for Defence People and Veterans, and given some of the public pronouncements made by him in recent days, I really believe that is the course of the British Government will take in the next 48 hours or so.

I will also make some points on a few other issues, starting with the infrastructure. It is absolutely the case that the more cross-Border infrastructure projects we can have between our two sides of this island the better, whether it is increased blueways or increased greenways. Introducing the concept of high-speed rail as soon as possible between Dublin and Belfast is another very important idea. These are ways to bring our people closer together with connectivity and with the social fabric of border areas.

On the preparations, as long as I have known him in this House Senator Ó Donnghaile has spoken about this so much and he is quite correct that it has to be about preparation and prepare, prepare, prepare. The Senator has advocated constantly for that. My issue with this, however, is that I do not believe this is what other Sinn Féin politicians have tended to do at times. It is not a case of a rush of blood to the head but there are plenty of times when other Sinn Féin politicians have called for border polls as a matter of urgency. I was in Louth County Council after the Brexit referendum vote in 2016. Within two months motions were before Border county councils calling for border polls to be held as quickly as possible. That is why I just find it hard. I do not disagree with the Senator's sincerity and I know he has advocated for it to be prepared. I believe, however, that it is easy for Sinn Féin at times to say we need to have a border poll while safe in the knowledge that a border poll could be unlikely enough, and when a border poll does come around in a couple of years, Sinn Féin can say it has always been calling for a border poll, it has always wanted a border poll, but it is too late. It is being done from a safe space.

When we consider the Scottish elections, and Deputy Neale Richmond is quite right on this, perhaps the concept of a border poll being initiated is stronger than ever after the Scottish elections. Let us actually look into the detail of the Scottish elections. We can see that of course there was a majority for the Scottish National Party, SNP, in terms of numbers of seats. The combined votes, however, between the SNP and the Green party, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives and the Labour parties, is a difference of some 50,000. This is 50,000 in the difference between those wanting a second referendum and those who do not.

This is not a political dig whatsoever, but I find it hard to take when we see politicians in Sinn Féin and in the unionist community advocating for and championing people who are considered terrorists by the other community. People have taken human life. How can we move forward into an agreed future when we are still harking back and celebrating atrocities from 20 years ago? It is exactly as Senator Currie has said. Let us build a future together and let us forget about the commemoration of the people who took lives on both sides over the past 20 to 30 years.