You’ll be aware that 25 years ago, the Good Friday agreement was signed. It was a transformative agreement and it was an internationally recognized agreement of importance and it really changed politics on this island for the better.

And although we still have very many ongoing problems with politics in Northern Ireland, those of you here who are my age or older will recall how great things have got since that agreement no longer.

Do we wake up in the morning time, hearing about people being lost, been murdered, have been killed in violence.

And I suppose one of the singular achievements of the Good Friday Agreement is that there’s no acceptance throughout this country amongst all political parties and organizations that violence is unacceptable for the purpose of trying to achieve political objectives.

“My ultimate political aspiration remains the coming together of all the people of Ireland achieved peacefully and by consent.”