Good Friday Agreement and Sinn Féin
Deputy Adams said the Taoiseach was unfairly blaming Sinn Féin and Michelle O'Neill for the Northern Ireland impasse and asked the Tánaiste to intervene. The Tánaiste defended his work with O'Neill and said restoring the Agreement’s institutions remained important, though politics there was vulnerable.
Today marks the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, of which, as we know, the Government is co-guarantor with the British Government. Unfortunately, the power-sharing arrangement is not functioning at this time because of the denial of rights by the DUP which is in breach of the agreement. The Taoiseach has taken to blaming Sinn Féin and An Teachta McDonald for this. Yesterday he blamed Leas-Uachtarán Sinn Féin, Michelle O'Neill, for the breakdown. The Tánaiste who works with Ms O'Neill knows that this is untrue. Will he have a word with the Taoiseach and ask him to desist from making these misleading and unhelpful remarks and instead fulfil his obligation to have the Good Friday Agreement fully delivered and the rights of citizens of the North upheld? He promised recently that nationalists in the North would never again be left behind by an Irish Government. People in the North listen to what is said in this Chamber. The DUP is encouraged by these remarks, but nationalists are upset, annoyed and embarrassed by them.
Comment on this
In his remarks the Taoiseach referred to Michelle O'Neill in her role as Minister for Health in the last Executive in Northern Ireland. I work with her on a regular basis and have a lot of time for her. We work well together in trying to find a way forward to re-establish the structures of the Good Friday Agreement for the betterment of everyone in Northern Ireland, from all backgrounds and of all identities. I will continue to do so. It is important to recognise that today, 21 years after the Good Friday Agreement was signed, we are in a vulnerable place in the context of politics and political relationships in Northern Ireland because of the tensions and polarisation that has happened on the back of difficult Brexit negotiations, particularly for many people in Northern Ireland. We - particularly those of us in this House but also people outside it - need to work together to try to put the structures back together.
Comment on this
The Tánaiste should know that the Taoiseach said Michelle O'Neill had walked away from her responsibilities.