Is dócha gur cheart aitheantas a thabhairt ar maidin don fhógra atá déanta ag Peter Robinson go bhfuil sé i gceist aige na bróga a chrochadh suas ó thaobh cúrsaí polaitíochta de. In the context of the statement issued this morning by the Northern Ireland First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, that he will resign his position as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and, as such, leave the political stage, it is important to acknowledge the very important role he and the Deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness, played in recent weeks in helping to forge a political conclusion to the talks at Stormont. It is also important to note that the claims made some weeks ago that politicians in the North could not work together to forge deals have been shown to be completely unfounded by the deal reached this week. This agreement was forged between the DUP and Sinn Féin before being presented to both Governments, which is very different from what happened on previous occasions. It is by no means an ideal conclusion to the discussions, as Sinn Féin is not happy with many of the elements of the deal. However, when one acknowledges that the Tory Government in Westminster is trying to impose a high level of austerity on the North and notes the lack of tax-generating powers devolved to the Northern institutions, one must welcome the positive aspects of the deal. It is equally interesting to note some of the political rhetoric we heard at the time of the crisis that resulted in the commencement of the talks. Certain leaders of political parties on this side of the Border stated at the time that the Assembly should be brought down. Great leadership has been shown and we should acknowledge the role played by both the main parties in the North in that regard. The debate on this new agreement will be very important.

I encourage Senators to attend a presentation at 1 p.m. in the AV room to launch the Irish appeal for the release of Arnaldo Otegi and other Basque political prisoners. This is a very important issue on which the Seanad should be much more vocal. Many political prisoners from the Basque country face very difficult circumstances, including being kept away from their families and friends, and are subjected to conditions to which they should not be subjected. It would be useful if Senators attended the briefing. I also call for a debate on this issue at a future date.

I also note the announcement of the impending resignation of the First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr. Peter Robinson. I met Mr. Robinson last year and found him to be very courteous and respectful. He should be given credit for moving the Democratic Unionist Party from a policy of "Never, never, never" to one under which, for the most part, his party has had a respectful relationship with the Nationalist community and has been very productive.

I also echo the welcome for the announcement of the Stormont agreement yesterday. It is to be welcomed that the institutions did not collapse. It is in this context that I ask the Leader for a debate on the issues surrounding the agreement, because a number of concerns remain outstanding. I note with great disappointment that despite the issues that have been agreed, agreement has not been reached on one issue, namely, the issue of the past. Yet again, victims whose loved ones were murdered as a result of the conflict in the North have had accountability and justice denied to them.

I refer to families such as those affected in Ballymurphy, on Bloody Sunday, in the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, and the families of the late Paul Quinn and the late Pat Finucane. We need collectively to find a way to address these issues and not let the hurt and pain of the void left by the absence of a mechanism fester any longer. There are also other concerns around the implementation of austerity measures which, in my opinion, cannot be solely laid at the door of the British Government. However, for the most part, I welcome the fact that agreement has been reached, although we probably need to pay more attention to the detail within it.

I join Senator Cahill in wishing the First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, the very best for his impending retirement. He made a major contribution to the peace process on our island and he certainly has come a long way since the infamous incursion into Clontibret in the 1980s. I very much wish him and his family well in his impending retirement.

I join Senator Mooney in calling for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to come to the House to discuss the jobs situation, particularly in the Border counties. I note the comments of Senator Michael Mullins that there has been a 12% increase in job creation in the Border counties over the past number of years - 12% of zero is not much of an increase. That debate is long overdue. I would welcome the Minister into the House to discuss positive discrimination towards the Border region, which has been ravaged by unemployment for decades. In welcoming the decision to reduce the corporation tax rate from 2018 in the North of Ireland, I note that could have consequences, particularly for the Border region, as outlined by Senator Mooney. I would very much welcome that debate.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 13 be taken before No. 1 today.

I echo Senators Cahill and Ó Clochartaigh in praising the work of the First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, in bringing the peace process forward in this country. In addition to going to Clontibret, as Senator Wilson stated, I met him twice in Dublin Castle so he comes South on more peaceful visits. At the installation of President Michael D. Higgins, I, like Senator Cahill, found him to be a quiet and courteous man, and very attached to the peace process. He was working on behalf of the Unionist working class community which had been neglected by excessive concentration on the constitutional issue. Like Senator Wilson, I wish him a return to full good health, a happy retirement and the thanks of the House. A thought occurred to me that perhaps he was a quiet-spoken person because he was the Reverend Ian Paisley's deputy for 17 years. I presume that may account for his certain quiet voice and reticence in public speaking at times.

On the Order of Business, I ask that instead of Committee Stage of the Legal Services Regulations Bill 2011, we take Second Stage. It is four years since we discussed the matter. The passage of time indicates that we should revisit these issues. It is also a completely different Bill from the one we discussed four years ago. It has 75 pages and 220 amendments, approximately three quarters of which have been tabled by the Minister herself. There is no urgency about this matter. The Government has delayed long enough in reforming the legal profession and there are no reforms proposed in the Bill. There are no roles for MABS, citizens advice centres, the consumer commission, FLAC, or university economics departments. Instead, there is an amazing section 34 where the staff of the Law Society and the Bar Council join the new body. Those who have been preventing reform are invited in, and they are given pensions under section 30. I do not know what follows next - compulsory jobs in the Department of Health for the tobacco industry or compulsory jobs in the Road Safety Authority for speeding drivers. It is bizarre to bring those who have been preventing reform for the past 38 years into the new body with pensions. Large chunks of this Bill are bizarre. It is so long since we considered it properly that we should take Second Stage and then deal with Committee Stage later. I second Senator Quinn's proposal to amend the Order of Business.