Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom focal a rá mar gheall ar rud maith atá á dhéanamh inniu, is é sin go mbeidh reachtaíocht teanga ó Thuaidh. Is trua liom go deimhin go gcaithimid braith ar Pharlaimint na Ríochta Aontaithe leis seo a dhéanamh ach sin mar atá. Tá súil agam go mbeidh téagar sa Bhille nua le cearta lucht labhartha na Gaeilge a chosaint agus ní le Gaeilge a bhrú ar dhaoine nach spéis leo í.

I am glad that language legislation has been published today. I hope it will be enacted by the summer recess at the latest. The Dearg le Fearg march last weekend showed there is a large community of people who desire proper supports for the Irish language and for rights to be conferred on Irish speakers. I welcome that there are separate provisions for Ulster Scots and indigenous cultures in this Bill. We in Ireland have to learn that inclusivity is not to be feared. Generosity and inclusivity in our dealings enrich us all and do not threaten anybody's identity. I say that as an habitual Irish speaker. It does not threaten me one bit if somebody is from a different country.

I am a republican and I believe that real republicanism in Ireland is inclusive and wants to see a new Ireland where decisions on this island are made in an inclusive way by all of the people of this island, whether their natural background is unionist or nationalist. I feel at times that our approach to resolving the new issues caused by Brexit was dealt with in a slightly confrontational way rather than in an inclusive way. I fully agree there should not be any border on the island of Ireland. From my talks, I believe many in the DUP privately accept and know this. It was always going to be difficult for them to have checks in the Irish Sea. We have to differentiate between British interests and the totally different interests of the unionists in the North. We have to take into account their sensibilities and try to find a way forward. A problem was that neither the Irish nationalist community nor the unionist community, whether in the North or South, were actually engaged in the front-line talks. The engagement of talks always leads to the acceptance of the final compromise. We have never fully addressed that.

It will be vital for the UK and the EU to protect the dual position of Northern Ireland in the EU and the UK customs union and in the EU Single Market in as unobtrusive a manner as possible within the terms of the protocol and to try to make the movement of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and vice versa, as seamless as possible. If one asked who did the most for the peace and security of the people of Northern Ireland out of the British Army, the PSNI and Gordon Wilson, I would say Gordon Wilson. He did it without any guns or security apparatus by reaching across in the most difficult point of his life. We have had relative peace for the past number of years. The last killing associated with the Troubles was that of Lyra McKee.

I would not let complacency lull us into a false sense of security. I have worked for years to persuade people from the physical force tradition that a much better way to realise their aims is through the political process and by persuasion. I have also fought for their human rights in prison and outside it. Peace will only be possible if they believe they are treated with fairness and respect. Those who believe a more draconian security approach is the answer to defusing the perceived threat are wrong.

I have major concerns about a number of issues in the North of Ireland. One relates to prison conditions for segregated prisoners, including strip-searching, controlled movement, isolation and lack of education facilities. Incessant stop and search is carried out on the families of perceived dissenting republicans. There are long remands, of up to three years, and strict bail for up to eight years before cases are brought to trial.

There also seems to be a policy of arrest and release in certain areas. Family bank accounts have been closed by the authorities, leaving whole families without access to welfare payments. I and two comrades who work with me will be preparing a submission on this for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, which he asked me to do. Mar a deirtear, tá go leor déanta ach go deimhin fhéin, tá go leor fós le déanamh.

See this speech in context