Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the free trade agreement announced on Friday last between the European Union and Canada. Ireland exports €2 billion in goods and services to that market. It is our 14th biggest export market. In April, we will have direct air services restored between Canada and Ireland by both Aer Lingus and Air Canada. There is much we could learn from contacts with Canada on the organisation of banking and the public finances. This could be the prototype for the big one, a free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, has drawn our attention to a valuable development in foreign trade from Friday last.

By contrast, this is a sad anniversary, the 20th anniversary of the Shankill bombing in which ten people died and 57 were injured. It was followed by retaliation in weeks subsequent, when 14 people were killed, including eight in Greysteel, where 13 were also wounded. A memorial service will be held today and I suppose, in spirit, we will all be there. It is an opportunity for us to rededicate ourselves to the peace process, to support the best efforts of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to deepen and broaden the peace process, and to support Ambassador Haass. My suggestion to the Leader would be that, if Ambassador Haass feels that in any way we can assist in the process, we might invite him to visit this House. It is important, as we remember sad occasions and sad retaliations, that the peace process brings together all the traditions on this island and we all have a duty to sustain, deepen and broaden it.