I stand this morning in solidarity with the residents of Garvaghy Road over what has taken place in the weekend gone by. I have to say it is pleasing to see the approach that has been taken by this British Government and this Administration. The caring and collaborative approach that has been taken is very welcome. While some might want to see a quick victory and for this brought to an end, I am a representative that would be very much with Chris Bryant in that whatever agreement is reached, it should be done with everybody coming to the table and with a little bit of latitude, respect, reconciliation and negotiation spirit. I look forward to a resolution there.

I also wish to stand and congratulate the Irish soccer team, which had a fantastic victory in recent days against the Israel team. I was one who watched with immense pride, given the pressure the team was put under - not only the players but also their families - which I think was wrong. A lot of things have been said about the players and the FAI. The FAI took decisions and asked that the decision be taken out of its hands by UEFA. Unfortunately, that did not happen, but I think it was good for Ireland and our sport that the game continued. I hope we get a very good crowd out to support the team on Thursday night, and I wish the players well with the rest of the fixtures. We are 100% behind them.

Today, I raise the issue of the Garvaghy Road. I saw a TikTok of a woman who grew up on the Garvaghy Road who is now engaged to an Orange man, as she described him. That is the reality being lost in all the division. We cannot lose sight of the people who have bridged the divide and built families and homes together, regardless of whether they grew up in republican or unionist households.

As we enter the third day of protests at the Garvaghy Road, we need to remember that the powers that be thrive on polarised communities. When the cost of living is high, hospitals are overcrowded and people are locked out of housing, it is much easier to pit people against each other and to distract from years of policy failures. The decision to allow the Orange Order to march down the Garvaghy Road will only push people to the extremes and reopen old wounds. There has been so much positive work done in the past 30 years and we should do everything in our power to protect it.

Nobody benefits from sectarianism, except those in power. If Stormont collapses, the DUP and Sinn Féin will have to set themselves up for an election that distracts from all the day-to-day issues affecting every single person in the North, regardless of what side of Portadown you come from. Bertie Ahern, a former leader of Fianna Fáil who was at the helm of the Good Friday Agreement, put it right a while ago when he said they should not be looking for short-term gain for votes at a time when we need peace, people and leaders to work for that peace and shared similarities between communities, and not to stoke flames because of their differences.