Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an fhógra ó Shasana inné maidir leis an straitéis is déanaí ó Rialtas na Breataine agus ón Aontas Eorpach. I join other colleagues in welcoming yesterday's announcement and the conclusion of the negotiation between the British Government and the European Union. We can all agree we, collectively, not only Sinn Féin but all of us, set ourselves a target in the context of the protocol, before, during and indeed after, of ensuring we protected the all-island economy, that there was no return to a hard border in Ireland, and that we safeguarded the North's access to the Single Market. That has all been done. The negotiation is concluded and now is the time to return the institutions in the North so that we can maximise the economic, employment and prosperity opportunities that are offered as a result of the protocol to ensure people in the North who are facing the difficulties caused by the cost-of-living crisis and the crisis in the healthcare sector and the educators and teacher community in the North who are facing difficulties can have these dealt with by the locally elected politicians in the assembly. That is what the majority of people voted for in last May's assembly election and that is what people want. They want to see the resolute conclusion of the negotiations, which is why yesterday was welcome, but they also want to see the protocol utilised and maximised in terms of what it offers our people and our economy.

The coming days will be an important period. Like Senator Craughwell, I too note a change in mood and tone, and I welcome that. All of it, dare I say, will not amount to much unless we ensure there is a collective effort and push to ensure we do all we can to get the institutions back up and running. At the heart of that, and it needs to be put on the record, is the need for the DUP to end its boycott of the institutions in the North. I hope it does, and sooner rather than later.

The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly will meet in Stormont on Monday. We will have our plenary session in the assembly chamber. I would much rather it was my colleagues in Sinn Féin and, indeed, all of the other parties returning to that chamber on Monday to represent my local community and all of the communities to get working on our all-island collaboration, the North-South Ministerial Council and our own inter-parliamentary forum, North and South.

Another week has passed and we have seen more slaughter in Palestine. Another week has passed and we still do not have the statements many across the House have been seeking. It is crucial this House does not remain silent in the face of that breach of international law and in the face of that apartheid system, that we have those systems and that we are able to send that international message of solidarity, peace and support for the rule of law.