Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2024-02-14
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Gary Gannon (SD), Dublin Central

I echo the words of so many on the welcome return of power-sharing in the North. As a student of history and as someone who has sat in this Chamber for the past four years, the words "historic" and "monumental" are too often overused. The scenes of Michelle O'Neill as Northern Ireland's First Minister and Emma Little-Pengelly as deputy First Minister were, however, truly historic and monumental. I was watching it live on TV and one could not help but note other issues of this significant event as it happened. An old friend of mine Andrew Muir, became the first openly gay Minister in the North. It was incredible. Matthew O'Toole also took his place as the leader of the Opposition. That is exactly what a healthy democracy should look like in the debating and exchanging of opinions. When some of the voices of the past that had tried to bring us back to a darker past stood up to give their views they were noticeable because of how much they stood out from where everybody else seemed to be. That was powerful.
Throughout our history, helping to build and maintain respectful and peaceful relationships between all of the peoples and communities of the island of Ireland has been among the greatest challenges we have faced. With the MLAs back on the assembly benches, the success of the reconvened assembly and the Executive will be judged, as are all of us in this House, by the people we represent.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2024-02-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2024-02-14