I wish to send congratulations from Seanad Éireann to Jeremy Corbyn on the remarkable result he gained for the Labour Party in Great Britain. It was so exciting. I stayed up until 6 a.m. watching the results. This was despite the vicious and dishonest attacks by the Murdoch yellow press. When he went out on the campaign, people saw him as he was - somebody who spoke in a moderate tone of voice and whose values were humane. He inspired young people. It is time for my colleagues in Sinn Féin to re-visit the abstentionist policy. It is complete nonsense. It is leaving the nationalist people of Northern Ireland, for whom they claim to care so deeply, unrepresented in Westminster-----

That is why they voted for us.

-----while they continue to collect their expenses, salaries and all the rest.

No, they do not get salaries from Westminster.

It is a complete fraud perpetrated on the people of Northern Ireland. It would be perfectly easy for them to re-visit this policy. They did so with regard to the Dáil. I recall when they said the Dáil was illegal and they refused to recognise it. They are happy enough to come into it now and they were happy enough to be part of the government-----

Would the Senator rather that we were not?

-----when they refused to take their seats in Stormont. I do not see the difference. They could perfectly easily do it. They were elected to do it, but they are doing nothing.

They were elected not to go to Westminster.

They should take their seats and represent the people in parliament.

That is not what the people want.

My colleague says it is not what the people want. How the hell does he know?

That is what they voted for.

No, they voted for a range of policies. The Senator does not know.

They voted for abstention.