This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7106601.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| MPs attend Dail joint committee | MPs attend Dail joint committee |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Fein and SDLP MPs have been in Dublin for the first meeting of the parliamentary committee reviewing the workings of the Good Friday Agreement. | Sinn Fein and SDLP MPs have been in Dublin for the first meeting of the parliamentary committee reviewing the workings of the Good Friday Agreement. |
| Northern Ireland's 18 MPs were allowed to attend committee meetings in the Irish parliament from Thursday. | Northern Ireland's 18 MPs were allowed to attend committee meetings in the Irish parliament from Thursday. |
| The privilege was used by nationalists but unionists declined the invitation. | The privilege was used by nationalists but unionists declined the invitation. |
| MPs will not be allowed to vote in the Dail, but can attend meetings such as the new committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. | MPs will not be allowed to vote in the Dail, but can attend meetings such as the new committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. |
| Alasdair McDonnell and Eddie McGrady from the SDLP and Sinn Fein's Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew attended the committee meeting. | Alasdair McDonnell and Eddie McGrady from the SDLP and Sinn Fein's Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew attended the committee meeting. |
| The four were joined by TDs and senators from the Republic in their work reviewing how the Good Friday Agreement is being implemented. | The four were joined by TDs and senators from the Republic in their work reviewing how the Good Friday Agreement is being implemented. |
| The Northern Ireland MPs can take part in the committee's debates but will not have a right to vote or to move motions and amendments. | The Northern Ireland MPs can take part in the committee's debates but will not have a right to vote or to move motions and amendments. |
| 'Full representation' | |
| Speaking after the meeting, Mr McDonnell said he could understand unionist concerns and discomfort in relation to the initiative. | Speaking after the meeting, Mr McDonnell said he could understand unionist concerns and discomfort in relation to the initiative. |
| "I think we've got to move on and find structures which they can co-operate with," said the SDLP deputy leader. | |
| "We've got to ensure that what we do accommodates and facilitates the unionist interest." | "We've got to ensure that what we do accommodates and facilitates the unionist interest." |
| Northern Ireland Agricultural Minister Michelle Gildernew said the committee was the first step in achieving full representation for NI politicians in the Dail. | |
| "We would like to see further work ongoing in Dublin to give us and our constituents in particular the right to be represented in our national parliament," she said. | "We would like to see further work ongoing in Dublin to give us and our constituents in particular the right to be represented in our national parliament," she said. |
| "This is an important first step but it is only a first step and I think there does really need to be a lot more work on going here in Dublin on getting proper representation for the people of Fermanagh/south Tyrone and other constituencies." | |
| Committee chair, Fianna Fail deputy Noel Treacy, described the meeting as "an historic occasion". | Committee chair, Fianna Fail deputy Noel Treacy, described the meeting as "an historic occasion". |
| "This is a truly historic day and one that is unprecedented in the history of our parliament," he said. | "This is a truly historic day and one that is unprecedented in the history of our parliament," he said. |
| Fine Gael's Cavan-Monaghan TD Seymour Crawford said it was a major step forward in north-south relations. | Fine Gael's Cavan-Monaghan TD Seymour Crawford said it was a major step forward in north-south relations. |
| "It is a major breakthrough that we are all able to sit around the one table here in Dail Eireann," he said. | "It is a major breakthrough that we are all able to sit around the one table here in Dail Eireann," he said. |