Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

No. Nationalist, but at times it is a bit of a kindergarten. The nationalist, republican house of the Twenty-six Counties is fractured at the moment. We should begin by healing the house of nationalism in the Republic of Ireland before we lecture the people in Northern Ireland. There is an awful lot more we could do here. There are people who have done terrible things in the name of a united Ireland, allegedly thinking this would bring it forward. One of those atrocities was cited by Senator Currie. Perhaps there will have to be a frank exchange, and people may say that it was very wrong and that it damaged a united Ireland. Perhaps that frank conversation has to happen. There are also those people who can easily be pointed at, but perhaps they also need to be heard. Perhaps they feel, with some justification, that this State did stand idly by at times and let the Six Counties go when they did not have a voice. Perhaps there was too much cosying up to prime ministers like Maggie Thatcher, which upset greatly the nationalist community, but we must have that open conversation.

I am not being judgmental about it but healing begins in this House. It should be such a powerful force of good it will propel itself into the Six Counties of our beautiful isle. Until we embrace an authentic peace that has at its heart peace, healing and reconciliation we are going nowhere. I commend Senator Currie, and everyone behind this motion. It is an important step. There is not one game changing step but this is an important step in the right direction. I understand that academics might feel that this is a bridge too far and it is time to move on but the Green Party and I do not believe that we can move on by sweeping the past under a carpet.