On the other hand if the free world is concerned with how a new Palestinian leader governs then the peace process will have a real chance to succeed.

My point was that removing Saddam should not have been our highest priority. Fighting terrorism should have been our number one concern followed by the Palestinian peace process.

But if republicans are to prevail if the peace process is to be successfully concluded and Irish sovereignty and re-unification secured then we have to set the agenda - no-one else is going to do that.

A diplomatic peace is not yet the real peace. It is an essential step in the peace process leading towards a real peace.

Peace is a never ending process... It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests. It requires us to work and live together.

Sinn Fein has productively taken the example of South Africa and as we develop the peace process we continue to use examples from South Africa.

I believe that peace with the Palestinians is most urgent - urgent than ever before. It is necessary. It is crucial. It is possible. A delay may worsen its chances. Israel and the Palestinians are in my judgment ripe today to restart the peace process.

I say that to my colleagues by the way in the internal Cabinet meetings I say 'Look I want to be very clear about what I want.' I just - I don't want a peace process I want a peace result.

Diplomacy in general does not resolve conflicts. Wars end not due to peace processes but due to one side giving up.

The lessons from the peace process are clear whatever life throws at us our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.