Leo Varadkar has said he believes the Good Friday Agreement should be reformed to change the controversial petition of concern. The Taoiseach told the Dáil that the mechanism has been used in a way that was not anticipated when the accord – also known as the Belfast Agreement – was signed. The Taoiseach also said the requirement for MLAs to declare themselves as nationalist, unionist or other should also be removed. Mr Ryan told the Dáil that the arrangement and institutions in Stormont are “not fit for purpose”. Mr Varadkar said that the Good Friday Agreement has evolved a number of times through the St Andrew’s Agreement and Stormont House Agreement.

Source: Irish Examiner October 16, 2019 13:07 UTC