Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As someone who comes from just outside Clones, a few miles from the Border, I know the genuine fear that existed in communities at the prospect of a hard border returning to this island. There was one person more than anybody who fought on Ireland's behalf to ensure that did not happen. That was Simon Coveney. Often, that meant leaving his young family at three or four o'clock in the morning to travel across Europe, fostering relations with our EU neighbours and ensuring Ireland’s interests were protected in the Brexit negotiations. Sinn Féin knows Simon Coveney served this country well on Brexit. It also knows the work he put in to ensure the Executive in Northern Ireland got back up and running.

When cool heads, perseverance and patience was needed, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, was there for the people of the Border region. He put in the hard yards to get the institutions going again.

Sinn Féin Members know very well the work the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has done on Northern Ireland. They know the work he has done on Brexit and yet when the chance comes to score cheap political points in tonight's motion they just could not resist. Sinn Féin still cannot put the national interest before party interest. It is disappointing but not surprising. Nor were the speeches by Sinn Féin Members tonight surprising. We had the usual sound bites about golden circles and looking after the elite. Fine Gael is no party of elites. They should come to my office in Monaghan, to the office of Deputy Carey in Clare, to the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, or to the office of Deputy Ring.

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