Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 May 2022

10:30 am

Photo of Aisling DolanAisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I thank Sinn Féin for tabling the motion. I recognise and congratulate the MLAs that have been elected in Northern Ireland.

We celebrated Europe Day on 9 May. It was about peace and prosperity. We have seen how it has been so crucial for peace and prosperity. We see the threats to democracy across and outside of European borders. On the island of Ireland, we need to protect the people of Ireland. We are now yet again at a critical juncture. The Minister has faced pressure over the past number of years to manage the Brexit process and put measures in place to protect the people in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. We need to figure out how we are going to manage and work well with our neighbours in the future with a plan and process in place.

I lived in Northern Ireland prior to the Good Friday Agreement. I know the power of that agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol to give assurance to people. At the Tánaiste has noted, the majority of MLAs in Northern Ireland support the Northern Ireland protocol. It is crucial that the Minister feels the support from Seanad Éireann today for the negotiations he faces in the time ahead and that Ireland speaks with a very clear voice about threats to agreements that have been negotiated on behalf of the people of Ireland. The United States has been has been clear in its support of the Northern Ireland protocol.

As someone with family and friends in the North, I know the importance of the recent elections. The Alliance Party is there to look at how we build consensus and compromise and to look at how to move forward with a society in Northern Ireland that will represent all of Northern Ireland.We must acknowledge there is a voice there that must be listened to and we must show our strength when in negotiations in the time ahead. The Minister has the support of Seanad Éireann. I hope he takes that with him as he goes forward.

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