Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas, a Chathaoirligh. I wish Arlene Foster well in the next chapter of her life. The harsh reality for the people of Northern Ireland is that this morning they have woken up to having no First Minister or Deputy First Minister, with the clock ticking away for seven days in order for both parties to agree the nominations of new Ministers to those roles. For all of the time in the background there is the ratcheting up of tribal tensions.

There is a way forward which is to adopt a page from the book of Linda Ervine. I congratulate her on being awarded an MBE in the latest published 2001 Queens birthday honours list for her service to her community in east Belfast. She has depoliticised the Irish language, a language which is there for everyone. It goes without saying that the Irish Language Act should be enacted but it is very unfortunate that we are in a situation where the Irish language is being used in a polarising way by green and orange when it should be embraced by all communities.

A further way forward for Northern Ireland, if I was to offer advice for these next few days of crucial negotiations, is to adopt the moderate approach of the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Green Party, which is a 32-county party. On the middle ground one will find consensus which will take people with them and, as Arlene Foster has said, it is home for all people, where their different identities have to be respected and where all should treat Northern Ireland as their home. I wish these negotiations well at this crucial time, especially with the looming marching season. The people of Northern Ireland do not need another polarising election at this time. It is one of the most polled jurisdictions and electorates in all of Europe.

It is time for real talking to happen with no showboating or playing to people’s own constituency in order to get things moving and to get Northern Ireland back at this critical stage in the post-Brexit world. Gabhaim buíochas.