Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I watched the programme last night and saw the dignity of a man who had lost the woman he loved. This country needs leadership on this issue which is sadly lacking from the Government at this time. The President's comments yesterday of what needs to happen is showing the leadership the country requires when one considers the omnishambles of the Government's handling of the Galway case. While some would criticise the President for an intervention of this kind, I would not as it is vital there is leadership in the country on such an issue.

Will the Leader organise a debate on how we treat our citizens abroad? Of the 33 countries in the Council of Europe, only four do not give the vote to their citizens abroad, Ireland being one of them. At the Global Irish Economic Forum, we asked our diaspora to assist us in our recovery. While we ask them to assist us, we do not utilise their talents. Craig Barrett, a former chief executive officer of Intel, offered to serve for free on a State board but has not been appointed to date. Neither has Niall Fitzgerald, the former chairman of Unilever, one of the world's largest companies, been approached to serve on State boards after a similar offer.