Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Seanad Éireann:

- celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement;

- acknowledges the thousands of lives saved over the past 25 years;

- recognises the personal and political risk that participants in the multi-party talks undertook on all sides;

- remembers the lives lost and families bereaved during the Troubles;

and calls for:

- all parties on these islands to recognise the spirit and respect shown by each political party involved in bringing about this agreement.

The Tánaiste is very welcome to the House this evening for this Fianna Fáil motion. Senator Blaney is unable to be here this evening, for which he is very apologetic.

It is an honour for me to stand here to propose that we celebrate the Good Friday Agreement, which was a truly historic moment for this island. It marked a new beginning; a time of hope, "what if?" and real optimism. It is not an overestimation to say that the Good Friday Agreement is one of the most significant achievements in Irish history. It brought together political leaders from all sides to create a framework for a peaceful future. It was a hard-found resolution of compromise for the greater good that recognised the rights of both traditions in the North while at the same time committed to a democratic and peaceful means of resolving differences.

I know myself growing up that I felt sometimes like there was no hope. There was fear and distrust with bombs, bomb scares, British soldiers putting the fear of God into people when they met them on the road going about their business, and the lookout towers. Through the eyes of a child, the constant news of murders, collusion on all sides, threats and bombs and the ominous sight of the British Royal Navy gunboat in Carlingford Lough had a depressing effect on people's outlook.

In communities it was the norm, and still is to large extent, to keep their mouths shut. Communities are traumatised and, back in 1998, I genuinely did not think an agreement was possible. Then politics worked, however. It most definitely shaped my expectations for my future and the ambition I had for myself and my country. It all felt possible. A person could come from a wee place in County Louth and achieve. Ireland could come from a place of violence and achieve, and it most certainly has. The people on this island are undoubtedly better off now than they ever have been.

It is important to acknowledge those who lost their lives and the families who experienced unimaginable destruction during the Troubles. Their loss was not lessened by the cessation of violence. They still live with the wounds, the empty seat at the table and the painful memories. There are still too many unanswered questions. Families are forced to continue to live without answers or justice and often live under a veil of intimidation and lies to ensure the truth is not found.There are still too many unanswered questions. Families are forced to continue to live without answers, without justice and often live under a veil of intimidation and lies to ensure the truth is not found. I think of those who were disappeared, in particular the McVeigh family who are praying and hoping that their nightmare of not having their brother's remains will end. Peace is here, but sometimes it is very hard to reconcile all that loss.

Huge progress has been made. Nevertheless, we must not forget that we have a long way to go. We all agree serious issues require attention and action. There are many problems, and we should not dance around the issues. Terrorist gangs still control many areas, a cloud of "say nothing" still hangs over many people. That "say nothing" attitude has led to the murderers of Paul Quinn remaining at large and the family living without answers.

The failure of the institutions to operate fully and the ability of a party to obstruct and paralyse democratic norms is having a really detrimental effect on the growth and progress of the North. We have to be concerned that no responsibility is being taken. To be elected to govern is a responsibility and an honour. To continuously blame others, as a reason to perpetuate chaos and delay progress, is juvenile and 25 years on from our greatest challenge, it is quite tiresome.

I urge parties in the North to put differences aside and stop running away from duties, often heading to Dublin or London to find solutions. In reality, the only solutions that will have longevity will be solutions found by the people and those elected in the North. There is a time when maturity is needed, to take responsibility, get back to Stormont, form a government and work for those who elected people.

I mention the unilateral action of the UK Government with the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. It is causing severe distress and anger on all sides. Strongly worded correspondence and robust meetings with UK Government Ministers and officials is not cutting the mustard at the moment. They are not making the changes. We have a responsibility as a State and as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement to utilise every single method of opposition we can. The UK Government is failing to heed the overwhelming opposition to this Bill and continues to ignore calls for the legislative process to be paused, the Bill abandoned and to commit to an agreed way forward. Amendments outlined by the UK Government to date are merely cosmetic and fail to address the fundamental flaws of the Bill.

I support Amnesty International, which called for the Irish Government to put a public marker down, that if the UK pushes this Bill through, it will be met with an inter-state challenge by the Irish Government. If the UK Government continues to ignore the overwhelming opposition to this Bill and the obvious breaches of human rights' obligations, including Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, that must be challenged. The rule of law and respect for victims' rights must be at the centre of legacy processes.

To be in politics one must be an optimist. One must be unapologetically ambitious for one's country. I am absolutely that person. I am optimistic for the future. I am excited for what it can bring. Supporting and promoting the entire island is the only way to fulfil our true potential. I have said it on many occasions that the future is the only thing we can change and that is why I am such a huge advocate for the share island unit. For the first time in the history of this State, the Tánaiste, when he was Taoiseach, created a dedicated unit with the sole purpose of looking at how we on this island can work closer together across the entire island, to create the synergies through capital projects and through research on topics like education, healthcare on both sides of the Border. We saw today that there was a social enterprise report published. The Narrow Water Bridge project in County Louth is a huge symbol of what can be.

The shared island unit is truly historic and should be applauded from the rooftops. It is dedicated to harnessing the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance co-operation on the island and engage with all communities and all traditions to build consensus around a shared future. This shared future is the only thing that is absolute - the only thing that is for sure.

We have a responsibility to work together, acknowledging that we do not know what the constitutional relationship will be in future. The outcome of a border poll is not a given. I know I will vote "Yes" every single day of the week for reunification but I am not part of the demographic we need to convince.

We need to work to enhance the share island unit, build those relationships and friendships North and South, to build an understanding and take heat out the debate. We have to accept that desperate things were done and that the hurt and fear continue. We must rebuild trust.

However, we are operating in a bit of knowledge vacuum. As we know, the British will play with the lives of the people of this island for their own political gains. We saw that so many times during Brexit debates and we see it now with the legacy legislation. We need to ask our British neighbours to examine practically what the requirements are for a referendum on reunification. There are currently too many unknowns and it is unfair on every side and we, as a State, need to support that work. Unknowns create vacuums; vacuums create misinformation and misinformation creates turmoil.

It is our collective duty to work together to ensure that the next 25 years are marked by peace, equality, and progress for all on this island. We must build an inclusive and prosperous society, where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their background. We must continue the work of the Good Friday Agreement to ensure that future generations of people on this beautiful island can live in a place that is free from violence and fear. Today is a day of celebration. We spent a lot of time over the past couple of months reminiscing, talking and reflecting. We need to move past that now. Yes, we have done well. We have patted ourselves on the back for 25 years of peace. We must now think about what we need to do for the next 25 years and start building that programme with the shared island unit and the institutions. We must support the institutions, with the North-South Ministerial Council working with the share island unit, the British Government and the State, to make sure nobody is left behind. Dare I say it but that is a real republican message.

To me, republicanism is about freedom, equality and about leaving nobody behind. Nobody has anything to fear from real republicanism because it is about respect for all traditions. Today, I am very glad to propose this Fianna Fáil Private Members' motion because it is very important to remember but it is also very important to be absolutely unapologetic and unapologetically ambitious for this entire island and to work towards that. Go raibh maith agaibh.