Beidh orm cúlú siar chun an leathanach ceart. Irish politics faces two highly significant and unprecedented moments involving far-reaching change in the State. Earlier we witnessed the resignation of the Taoiseach. I endorse the remarks made by my party leader, Deputy Gerry Adams, in wishing the outgoing Taoiseach well. To give 40 years service in this House-----

The other House.

I apologise - the other House - this Oireachtas, I should say. That is no mean feat. He could end up here yet; one never knows. I wish him and his family well. It is an important time for them. Deputy Varadkar will be elected as the new Taoiseach tomorrow and I too wish him well. I hope his term of office will be notable for a more direct and hands-on involvement in the North, bringing the authority of the office of Taoiseach to bear on the overall direction of Irish politics.

I hope it is not an indication of what is to come but I am somewhat disappointed that the incoming Taoiseach took the time to contact Arlene Foster on the DUP's recent electoral success but failed to do likewise with any of the other parties in the North. The other highly significant event that I referred to earlier is of course the electoral results in the North. For Sinn Féin, this is the biggest vote for nationalists since partition and is the first time across the North that more votes were cast for non-unionist parties. The DUP also had a good election. Given this political context in which we now find ourselves as a result of the election and the impending threat posed by Brexit, it is critical that the new Taoiseach implements the long-standing promise that MPs from the North would, as of right, have speaking rights in this Oireachtas. I am glad to say-----

Why will Sinn Féin not speak in Westminster?

That is a principled position.

Without interruptions, please. Do not be tempted to interrupt.

I may perhaps come to that, Cathaoirleach, during the course of my remarks.

You have a minute to do so.

I am glad to say that for the first time since partition, nationalists have rejected Westminster and turned their backs on it. They have said they want no part in Westminster and, of course, that Westminster should have no part with them. That would be a more appropriate response than the comments we have heard from Deputy Micheál Martin and other regional party leaders such as Fine Gael and Labour, who have told us that republicans must take their seats in Westminster and swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen of England. I wonder whether the same people would have advised those who set up the first Dáil in 1918 that such a bold and decisive decision was folly and that Sinn Féin MPs should take their seats at Westminster instead. How dare they stand on the sidelines as passive observers of politics in the North and tell the huge expressed democratic mandate endorsed for the Sinn Féin stance that they have to ignore that and travel to England?

They did it before.

What they have to do is listen to the expressed will of the people that they look to Dublin for leadership and political advance in the situation across the North, and not to Westminster, which has not proven-----

A Parliament Sinn Féin used to refuse to recognise.

Senator Norris.

Perhaps I will be allowed get through my remarks, a Chathaoirligh. This is not just a position for the sake of it, this is a principled position that has been significantly endorsed now by the people of the North. Almost 250,000 have stated clearly that abstentionism is their favoured position. It may not be the favoured position of everyone in this House-----

The Senator does not know that.

-----but the nationalist people have spoken.

The Senator does not know that.

Allow the Senator to conclude.

I know it because of the results last week. Despite the interruptions, I have more on which I would have liked to have touched and will finish with this point. We have an opportunity to implement the outstanding agreements and to restore the institutions in the North that I believe everyone, North, South, east and west wishes to see implemented. My party and I are up for engaging with the incoming Taoiseach to ensure that the full weight of the office and of the Government is ever alert to anything that would threaten or jeopardise the progress made.

The Senator took a bit of poetic licence with Senator Norris' interference and got almost a minute.

You are very good, a Chathaoirligh.