Jim O'Callaghan

I'm a member of Dáil Éireann.

It took a long time to get elected.

It's a great privilege to be there.

I represent my constituents as best I can.

And in terms of fulfilling the job of Minister for Justice, you know, I get up every morning excited about the job I have to do and I enjoy it.

Like, who am I?

I'm a hard-working Fianna Fáil TD who has the privilege of being Minister for Justice.

Well, I think that the partition of this island after the famine was the worst thing that happened to the people of the island.

I think it was a sectarian solution to a political problem.

I think when you look at the reasons for partition back in 21, 22, there were understandable reasons why the northeast of the island wanted to get out.

There was fear of an oppressive Catholic church.

There was fear that the southern economy was so weak that it would

stagnate the vibrant Northern economy.

Both those reasons are now gone.

And I think we need to recognise that, you know, the world is changing quickly.

In the UK, like, our history is enormously impacted by what happens in the UK.

It's just, it's always been the case.

And it's not unusual.

Very large, heavily populated island beside the smaller island, which colonised us.

So our history is enormously affected by them.