Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to say in respect of the appearance here today by the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, that he stayed in his seat as a courtesy to the House. It was not the case that he was sent in to deal with a matter on which he had no expertise. Senator Clonan was rightly outraged that the Government effectively tried to get him to pull the debate and did not even arrange to send somebody else in. It was simply proposing to leave that seat empty. The Cathaoirleach may deal with that, but I want to put on record my solidarity with Senator Clonan. I also raise the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, was acting as a gentleman and was acting in courtesy to this House.

I will raise one thing about today, which is a day on which the institutions in Northern Ireland are to be up and running again. I welcome that unequivocally. I am delighted that the institutions are to be up and running and that the Good Friday Agreement is to be operated as was envisaged by the people who voted for it. What I want to say is that reconciliation is needed in Northern Ireland between the kind of people who want a united Ireland, including myself, and those who do not. The political system up there requires generosity and mindfulness of the position of others who disagree with the concept of a united Ireland. In that context, I have a comment that I hope Senators Warfield and Gavan will not take amiss. To say that a united Ireland is now within touching distance is very insensitive to the two thirds of people in Northern Ireland-----