I will address the matter at the end of the Order of Business.

I will try to whiz through things. I wish to briefly mention the UNRWA funding and a number of countries' withdrawal of it. I understand the accusations made towards UNRWA. However, it has provided flour to 3,482 families outside of shelters since November 2023, combatting what many international organisations call emerging starvation, looming famine and outbreak of disease. It supports 5.7 million refugees in the Middle East and 1.7 million internally displaced Palestinians, hundreds of whom have been killed. Those numbers are telling a devastating reality in Gaza and highlight the importance of UNRWA on the ground. It is horrific that the major states are still choosing to suspend that funding, which will cause the elimination of all the activities carried out by UNRWA by the end of February. I note the Taoiseach and others have made comments that there are no immediate plans to withdraw our funding, but I hope Ireland urges other UN member states to follow our example and continue to support the organisation as is, seeing as it is a lifeline for the Palestinian population. It is providing basic necessities such as shelter, water, food and healthcare to 2.3 million people despite the fact that 150 of their employees have been killed. I wanted to put that on the record.

I wish to highlight another matter. We hear much talk about referenda and voter registration and the deadline for that is Tuesday, 20 February. There have been all sorts of changes around the voter registration process, which have been very welcome. I am not sure whether we could discuss the following, or whether Leader could raise it with her sister parties in government, but a number of youth organisations, such as the Union of Students in Ireland, Labour Youth and others, have pointed out that the local elections are on the first Friday of the leaving certificate. They are calling for it to be changed, so that young people would be able to vote, and that there would be a recognition that it is during the leaving certificate. The dates have not been finalised but the USI, Labour Youth, the Young Greens and a number of organisations are concerned that this clash with the leaving certificate may hinder young people from participating in the electoral process. The last two local and European elections were held in May, so there was not any question of them being held in the middle of the examinations. I echo their calls. Perhaps other people here will engage on that. I do not know if Saturday voting is possible, but it is concerning that it is in the middle of the leaving certificate.

At last, we have a breakthrough in the negotiations in the North of Ireland and we all expect the Assembly will elect a new Executive before the 8 February deadline. That will mean Northern institutions will be back up and running. There will be a fully functioning Assembly and an Executive, as well as the full operation of the Good Friday Agreement. The democratic outcome of the Assembly elections in 2022 will at last be respected. Thankfully, the DUP has moved to explicitly recognise and respect the outcome of that election.

This has been a long time coming, but I am delighted for Michelle O'Neill, who can now really fulfil her promise to be a First Minister for all. She has been a hugely popular designated First Minister. She has given us a sense of what really can be achieved in that office as First Minister. She is a real people person. It was an absolute joy to march with her on the streets of this city for Dublin Pride last year.

In all seriousness, this is a hugely significant moment. It is the first time we have had a Sinn Féin First Minister in the North, and she is the first nationalist First Minister as well. I think that is representative of the seismic shift on our island and in the North of Ireland as well. It will take a good bit of hard work and real leadership from all the parties to help the people of the North to deal with the day-to-day challenges they now face, which have as we know been severely worsened by the absence of a government. The rising cost of living can now be addressed. The challenges in public services can be prioritised. Reconciliation between the people in the North and across this island can be maximised.

For those of us who advocate for constitutional change, the full working of the Good Friday Agreement offers the roadmap to peaceful and consensual constitutional change. Do we continue to support the union with Britain, or do we support a sovereign, united Ireland? We welcome the news. We look forward to the events over the next week or two. When the Speaker is elected to the Northern Assembly, the Cathaoirleach might extend our best wishes to him on behalf of this House.