Sinn Féin West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty speaking ahead of the first meeting of the Oireachtas all-Ireland Committee in Dublin today, Thursday, has said that it is insufficient to meet the requirement for northern representation in the life of the nation.

The committee will look implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Doherty said, "Sinn Féin has led the way in working for greater working between the political institutions across the island of Ireland. This includes the working relationships between Leinster House and the Assembly, the right to vote in Presidential elections and deeper working between the councils on the cross border groups.

"The new all-Ireland Committee will look at the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. This includes all-Ireland Parliamentary Forum and the all-Ireland Civic Forum.

"This represents progress but it is insufficient to meet the requirement for northern representation in the life of the nation.

"This first meeting is the first opportunity for representatives of every party across the island to directly engage on many of the fundamental issues that affect all of our people.

"The challenge is for unionists to show mature political leadership by engaging in this new forum. This is where we can engage in the debate about how we move forward together and how we can begin to realise the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement."