I join with the Ceann Comhairle in welcoming the members of the delegation from Moldova, along with the ambassador, Ms Larisa Micule, who we all know very well, and to assure them of our continued support for Moldova's path to its membership of the EU and our support for it in everything it is trying to do now to defend its independence and its democracy from forces that would undermine it. They are most welcome.

Tá áthas orm go bhfuil socrú nua in áit idir an tAontas Eorpach agus an Ríocht Aontaithe - the Windsor Framework. Tá seans againn anois roinnt cinnteachta a thabhairt don phobal agus do lucht gnó ó Thuaidh agus ó Dheas. Tá deis againn anois díriú ar an gcairdeas domhain idir Éire agus an Bhreatain agus é a neartú. Tá spás cruthaithe anois, tá súil agam, ina mbeidh an Pharlaimint agus Rialtas an Tuaiscirt in ann teacht le chéile arís agus dul i mbun a gcuid oibre. Níl daoine i dTuaisceart Éireann ag iarraidh filleadh ar fhadhbanna a bhaineann leis an am atá thart. Tá siad ag iarraidh dul chun cinn a dhéanamh le chéile i sochaí chomhroinnte.

The agreement reached yesterday between the UK Government and the EU is most welcome. I am very much ad idem with the Leader of the Opposition in her remarks in that regard. The Windsor Framework involves a package of legislative changes at EU and UK level, a political declaration, or rather a number of political declarations, and also amendments to the protocol. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for the protocol to be amended within the first four years of operation.

From our point of view, as a Government, a people and a country, I believe we can be comfortable and satisfied with the outcome. When the Brexit referendum happened almost seven years ago, we set out our main objectives, which were to ensure that there was no hard border between North and South, that the European Single Market would be protected and our place within it would not be undermined, that the Good Friday Agreement would be upheld and that there would continue to be free movement of goods and people across the Border. None of this is compromised by this new framework. More importantly, none of it was ever in question.

There will be briefings offered to the parties today or tomorrow. My office will facilitate that, and we are happy to answer any questions or give any clarifications we can. The Tánaiste is going to convene the Brexit stakeholder group, including the wider business sector, NGOs, unions and so on, so that we can brief them as well.

I think it is fair to say that this is a good agreement for Europe and the UK. It will allow us to put relations back on a more solid footing. That is really important now because we need the UK as a partner and ally when it comes to the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, bringing inflation down and other things that are important to all of us. It could be very good for Irish and British relations as well. I believe we can build a new and close partnership, post Brexit, with the UK. I hope to develop those conversations with Prime Minister Sunak in the period ahead.

Above all, I think the agreement works for Northern Ireland. There will be no hard border between North and South, businesses will have access to both the EU and UK markets, which is an economic advantage for Northern Ireland, goods can flow freely from Great Britain to Northern Ireland through the green channel, and the same items that are on the shelves in supermarkets in Britain will be on the shelves in supermarkets in Belfast. Issues with medicines, parcels, plants, pets, packages, sweet potatoes and steel have all been resolved. Northern Ireland will be able to apply UK excise and VAT rates in certain circumstances. A serious effort has been made to close the democratic deficit through the Stormont brake mechanism.

It is fair to say that the EU has listened to the concerns of people, businesses and political parties in Northern Ireland. Those concerns have been listened to, compromises have been made and changes have been made where they were possible. I know Members are going to want to take some time to consider this agreement. The legal text is 400 pages long and people are going to want to see it and pore over it. I understand that the views of all five major Northern Ireland parties, including the DUP, are important in that regard. They will want to consider it, ask questions and issue a reasoned response. I hope, at the end of that, we will find that all five parties are able to agree to it and to support it, thus allowing the Assembly, the Executive and the North-South Ministerial Council to function again, as we all want them to.

I thank the Taoiseach for that. There is no doubt but that the certainty and progress of which he speaks is desired by all of us and, most particularly, by people in the North. It is fair also to say that Europe listened to the concerns that were raised, as it made clear it always would, and agreement and a deal have been struck.

Let us reflect, however, on the fact that the biggest concern for people in the North is that they have government. The biggest concern is that we have an Executive and a functioning Assembly nine months after a democratic election. There is now, I am sure the Taoiseach will agree, no logic for the DUP to continue its blockade. The negotiations are over. The deal has been struck. Yes, we need to pore over the fine detail of that, but I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that we can do that work with a functioning Assembly and an Executive in place. There is now no room for further delay or prevarication. Nine months on, people in the North need their Government up and functioning. Will the Taoiseach join with me in calling on the DUP to make that happen without further delay?

I read the statement of the leader of the DUP last night and heard his interview on radio this morning. I think he has asked for a little time to consider the agreement, to pore over the text and to ask some questions. That is reasonable, and we should allow a little time and space for that to happen and for him to consult his party. That is not unreasonable. Certainly, the European Union and the British Government are happy for that to happen. We can see that there is strong cross-party support for this, not just in Northern Ireland but also here and in Britain. I hope that allows us to proceed, to open a new chapter in relations and, in particular, to allow the Government in Northern Ireland to function again, which I agree is what the people of Northern Ireland voted for. They want decisions to be made locally. Tá siad ag iarraidh go ndéileálfaidh institiúidí polaitíochta leis na ceisteanna tábhachtacha: cúram sláinte, costais mhaireachtála, tithíocht agus an geilleagar.