Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom féin, thar cheann Ionadaithe Shinn Féin, ár gcomhbhrón a chur in iúil don tSeanadóir Imelda Henry agus dá muintir as bás a máthar, agus do chlann Éamon de Buitléar, dá bhean, Laillí, agus do chlann a chlainne. Fear mór le Gaeilge, le scannánaíocht, le cultúr agus le teanga ab ea é. Airímid uainn go mór é ach d'fhág sé oidhreacht iontach ina dhiaidh. Go ndéana Dia trócaire air.

We also support the messages of condolence to the family, friends and local community of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe who was savagely murdered. It was a terrible murder that should never have happened. Our hearts go out to him and to everybody connected with him. We hope the perpetrators are brought to justice as soon as possible.

On a wider perspective, I am seeking a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the review of court services around the country. Yesterday, it came to my attention that staff in Derrynea courthouse in County Galway were told that their administrative office is to be closed down by the end of April. I understand this is part of a rationalisation process. The courthouses concerned are at Inis Mór and An Spidéal in County Galway, as well as Derrynea in Connemara, which is one of only a few Irish-speaking courts in the country. This is a national review, so it would be good if the Minister could attend the House to explain its current status and his plans. I am afraid that there will be a scaling down of court services, particularly in rural areas, which would be a retrograde step. I am calling for that not to happen. I ask the Leader to convey those points to the Minister and request him to attend to this issue as soon as he can.