We are led to believe that progress has been made in the Brexit negotiations since the House last met. I acknowledge the work done on this issue by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney. It is important that we recap to clearly understand what has been agreed. In that regard, I will be interested to hear if anyone has a different understanding from me on what occurred.

It is my understanding that, as a result of the protracted negotiations between the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, and others in the United Kingdom and European Union, it is clearer that the Good Friday Agreement will be protected and everyone born in Northern Ireland will continue to have the right to Irish and, therefore, European Union citizenship. Moreover, the common travel area allowing unimpeded travel between the UK and Ireland will continue, and UK and Irish citizens will continue to enjoy freedom to work and study and access to housing, health care, pensions and welfare in both countries.

The UK has committed to ensuring that, in the North, there will be no diminution of human rights safeguards and equality of opportunity, as set out in European law. These are simple and important achievements. Given the complexity of the debate on Brexit, it is incumbent on politicians that we demystify the intrigue and language surrounding this issue and try to explain in simple terms and concepts what the negotiations are about. I have highlighted only some of the key issues.

I ask the Government to maintain pressure in fighting for the interests of the people of the island of Ireland. It is nice to see this much used term being used more often in political dialogue, debate and discussion. The key message is that we must protect the interests of the people of the island of Ireland in terms of prosperity and peace. I ask the Government to maintain focus and not to apologise for fighting for and seeking the best deal for the island of Ireland and its people, North, South, east and west.

I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Skills to come to the House early in the new year for a comprehensive debate on Caranua, an organisation established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to manage €110 million pledged by the religious congregations to survivors of abuse. In simple terms, Caranua has failed to meet the complex needs and requirements of many of the survivors of abuse.

We need to examine this. There is a lot of money that was meant to address issues such as health care, housing, physical and mental health, emotional well-being and, possibly, education and training but these areas have not been fully addressed. They are complex issues and there are complex difficulties associated with many people who have suffered and survived institutional abuse. We need to consider this again. We need to engage with the victims of abuse and the organisations and put together a review. I would like to have a review but it is important that the Minister would attend the House first to explain the background to it and outline his intentions and plans.

I want to bring to the attention of the Seanad a letter published in yesterday's edition of The Irish Post that was signed by more than 200 members of civic nationalism. The letter expresses the frustration and abandonment felt by the nationalist community at the repeated failure by the British Government to implement all aspects of previous agreements. It is deeply worrying for the nationalist community that, as aspects of Brexit are negotiated in Brussels and elsewhere, much of the content and detail of the agreement relies on the British Government implementing it because the British Government does not have good form in this regard.

The letter was signed by citizens from the worlds of sport, law, academia, community, business, education and the media. The reality is that nationalists in Ireland no longer look to Westminster for leadership or direction on the issues concerning them. They are increasingly looking to the Dublin Government to provide leadership. The result of the two elections this year made that abundantly clear when Sinn Féin was given an increased mandate for its explicit abstinence policy.

Many of these people see the impact of the failure to implement previous agreements in their professional lives. Lawyers have witnessed the impact that delayed inquests and inquiries have on the relatives of those killed and injured in the conflict. The letter states:

This is most recently instanced in the British Government's refusal to move on the legacy inquest rights. The Conservative Party's political pact with the DUP has now become a grave threat to political progress.

This letter should be viewed as an indication that nationalists and republicans want to see the institutions restored and working.

In terms of some of the simple and nonsensical debate around why the institutions do not just get up and running, the institutions are no use to anyone unless they are underpinned by equality and parity of esteem and this must be part of a rights-based society. There is no point in restoring the institutions if they fail to provide the rights of citizens that are available across these islands. The Irish Government needs to be proactive on the issue. The current crisis has come about due to the actions of the DUP and the Tory Party. By convening the intergovernmental conference immediately, pressure can be directly placed on the British not to capitulate to regressive elements and to deliver the rights and protections for citizens that could see the institutions restored again.

The Taoiseach spoke last week of the Irish Government never again abandoning Northern nationalists. They have stated clearly what is now needed and the Taoiseach must heed it and act. Notwithstanding having learned today that the Taoiseach will be coming into the Chamber in February, I ask that he attend in the new year to discuss how he intends to put these welcome words of never again abandoning Northern nationalists into action. It is important that the Taoiseach attend the House. However, this is a substantive issue in itself and I would welcome the Taoiseach attending to discuss that element purely with us and how he will implement what he said.