At the very successful Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis on Friday and Saturday evening, the leader of the party, Deputy Micheál Martin said:

Fifteen years ago Fianna Fáil negotiated and secured overwhelming public endorsement of a new departure North and South. ... What we are seeing today is an alarming disengagement by the British and Irish Governments, who act as if peace can be taken for granted. The flag riots and dissident violence simply cannot be ignored. What we need now is for the Governments to step up – not walk away.

I speak specifically today on the proposed Narrow Water bridge between Carlingford and south County Down.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I want the Taoiseach to engage with his colleagues in the North. The Minister for Finance and Personnel in the North, Mr. Sammy Wilson, MP, is withholding the final funding for this beautiful bridge. The EU has agreed to contribute €18 million if the project goes ahead, with €3 million more being given by the Minister, Mr. Wilson, as the North's contribution. This beautiful bridge linking North and South will be built by 2015. President McAleese's theme as President was building bridges. What could be more appropriate than building this bridge connecting the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Mountains and developing the tourism industry North and South? I see my colleague, Senator Terry Brennan, smiling and supporting me in what I am saying.

I would love to open it.

I recently watched Mr. Sammy Wilson on "Stormont Today". He likes to raise hackles and emotional divisions in the North continuously-----

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I am asking him to give the final small amount of money to build this beautiful new infrastructure, North and South.

Invite him to the Seanad - that is what we should do.