For as long as I have been a Member of the Seanad, this House has encouraged cross-Border interaction, debate and co-operation. This is happening on an issue currently and the fact it is about the right to life rather than economics, political structures or tourism should not be the cause for anger and alarm. I am delighted to have travelled to Stormont to meet political figures up there to discuss that very issue. Were the DUP to come down here, Members should feel happy about that. I remember a time when no member of the DUP would cross the Border and come down to the Republic.

Correct.

Certainly, they would not enter Leinster House under any circumstances. I would not like the message to go back to them that simply because they came down here to discuss the right to life, in one of our Houses of Parliament, Members took the opportunity to in some way misrepresent that visit. Were Members to so do, it would have an impact on future relationships as well.

I am very disappointed with Sinn Féin. I have always have been quite outspoken in this Chamber to make sure its members got their rights both within this House and within the political structures. I also praised Sinn Féin for its work on the Good Friday agreement. I am disappointed with Sinn Féin that it would activate the petition of concern because if one understands the system as it operates in the North, this amounts to a veto. In a way, it is sad this happened. Moreover, it may even be misrepresenting Sinn Féin's own position but the difficulty is that with the party operating on both sides of the Border, it possibly has different approaches to different issues.

No, we do not. We take a consistent approach.

Senator Ó Murchú, without interruption. Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

On this occasion, as there was cross-party support for what was happening in the North, I would have much preferred had Sinn Féin allowed it to stand. While it is their prerogative and constitutional right, Members should not discourage in the future such cross-Border co-operation, interaction and dialogue and moreover, no message should go out from this House to that effect.

On a point of order, I think I have been accused of misrepresenting matters. The record should show I have misrepresented nothing at all and if there is a question of a cause of anger and alarm-----

No, the record of the House will speak for itself.

----- I made a point of welcoming the visitors. As Senator Ó Murchú knows quite well, as does Senator Coghlan, who I am sure will tell the truth about all this, I made them welcome and said it was a very positive thing.

Senator, the record of the House can speak for itself.

However, I cannot restrain my sense of humour at the utter hypocrisy-----

I call Senator Brennan, please. The Senator is completely out of order and should resume his seat please.

-----of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on the Northern gerrymandering of the DUP. They are well met.

The Senator already has contributed. I call Senator Brennan.