Northern Ireland and Brexit vacuum
Senator Wilson warned that the breakdown in Northern talks and weak leadership would create a dangerous vacuum amid Brexit. He suggested Sinn Féin should consider temporary action and wished Gerry Adams well in retirement.
I join colleagues in expressing my disappointment that the talks in the North have broken down somewhat unexpectedly. I have no doubt that the outline of an agreement had been agreed between the leadership of the DUP and that of Sinn Féin. Unfortunately, however, it appears that Arlene Foster was unable to get it through her party. We now have a weak British Prime Minister who is leading a weak British Government and dealing with a weak leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. That will lead to major difficulties if progress is not made quickly. It will create a vacuum that will be very difficult to fill. Senator Colm Burke spoke about calmness and Senator Ó Donnghaile referred to that also. I respect what Senator Ó Donnghaile has said because he is at the coalface, living in Belfast and being a member of the hierarchy of his particular movement.
There is one way Sinn Féin might concentrate minds in the Democratic Unionist Party, which is obviously stalling matters. I am a nationalist and a 32-county republican. I was born and reared on the Border and I observed the consequences of the conflict for over 30 years. There is one way to concentrate the minds of those in the Democratic Unionist Party. In that context, if I had been elected there, I would temporarily take my seat in the House of Commons. I understand - that is why I asked for calmness - why that would seem an affront to the people who vote for Sinn Féin.
By temporarily taking their seats in the House of Commons - and they could hold their noses if they wanted while taking the Oath of Allegiance - Sinn Féin MPs would put a weak British Prime Minister and her weak Government out of office, thereby eliminating the problem of the influence of Arlene Foster's party. Ms Foster's party is effectively in government and holding the British Government to ransom.
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By doing that temporarily, they could put an end to Brexit.
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I ask Sinn Féin Senators to consider that proposal or to bring it to their party leadership in Belfast.
I take this opportunity to wish Gerry Adams the best of health and happiness in his retirement. If this vacuum is created, I hope, for the sake of many communities in the North of Ireland, that he has not gone away.