Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

On behalf of the Labour Party I extend my sympathy to the Polish people on the death of their President and the other 94 people killed in the Smolensk air crash this month. That so many people of importance to the development of the country died is sad, as is the fact they were going to a joint commemoration with the Russians to mark the anniversary of the Katyn disaster in 1940 when 22,000 Poles and other citizens were killed by the Soviet army. Anyone visiting Poland will be struck by the oppression Polish people have suffered over the past number of centuries from east and west. This is particularly true of the last century, in places such as Auschwitz where 6 million citizens of Poland, including gypsies, gay people and straight people were killed by the Nazi armies of Europe. We are struck by how the Polish people, through their determination, have come through this and built their country. That determination ensures the country continues to grow and deal with the current disaster. I pay particular tribute to those Polish citizens living in Ireland, who are away from home at the moment. It must be particularly sad for them. I express our deepest condolences to them.