Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Fiach Mac Conghail and Katherine Zappone for tabling this important motion. It was tabled within 24 hours of the First Minister of Northern Ireland having to apologise to the Muslim community. I believe he apologised genuinely and profusely to the Imam, Dr. Raied Al-Wazzan, in Belfast last evening. He regretted the incident which had been caused by the speech of Pastor McConnell in Belfast.

On the happier side, I think of the installation of President Higgins, when representatives of all Christian traditions, as well as Muslims and Jews, participated in the ceremony, as they do in the annual Easter Monday commemoration at Arbour Hill. It would be very useful for Irish society if representatives of the Hindu, Islamic and Jewish traditions were seen and heard more by people and if their traditions were explained to the wider community. We want to build friendships with those who have come to this country. There are some great successes in that regard. President Obama was warmly received here, while Kader Asmal, a colleague of mine and Senator Ivana Bacik, was a major community figure. There was Anna Lo's contribution to the Chinese and ethnic communities in Northern Ireland. Paul McGrath and Phil Babb were two of most popular footballers who ever played for Ireland. There is also the success of anti-racism campaigns in sport, in which respect the FAI and the GAA have been mentioned.

We must get to know one another.

The happy and warm events I have described would contrast sharply with what happened decades earlier at the funeral of the former President Douglas Hyde. On that occasion, people either stayed away or remained outside the cathedral as a result of the fact that he was a member of a different tradition, namely, the Church of Ireland. We are learning and we will try our best to help all of the organisations that are seeking to combat racism. The presentation made earlier today was most impressive, particularly in the context of the garda involved trying to recruit Senator Ó Clochartaigh to deal with the problem.