Northern Ireland

I agree that it is not only the DUP that has a mandate; of course the SDLP has an important mandate and I listen to what that party says, too. I also agree that the Good Friday agreement has an even bigger mandate because it was endorsed by all the people of Northern Ireland and, indeed, by the people of the whole island of Ireland. The fact remains that, if a party makes it clear that it requires certain changes that are important to it, and has stood on such a platform—not changes to the fundamental architecture of the Good Friday agreement, because that remains in place; all the fundamental principles remain in place—there is no point in denying that that has occurred. There is every reason to expect, plan and provide for—as I intend to do—the opportunity to make those changes, if there is a commitment by all the parties to form the necessary agreement to restore the institutions. We would have to make those changes as part of that agreement and I do not see how the hon. Gentleman could, publicly or otherwise, really disagree with that.