Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To be helpful to the House, I would be very happy to have such a debate but I would like to be here for it, if that is possible. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have made some quite strong statements on both the killing and what happened at the funeral, which was disgraceful and should be condemned. I have no problem in doing that but I would like to be here for the debate. I believe it would be helpful to the House. I happen to be in Turin on Thursday and Friday of this week because Ireland is taking the chair of the Council of Europe. That is unavoidable for me but I would be happy to attend a debate early next week, if the House agrees.

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