Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish our friends in Scotland the best of luck in their fight for independence from Britain. Even if they are defeated, things will never be the same again. Scottish independence would be wonderful for Ireland and would bring a united Ireland faster down the track. I am a passionate believer in achieving a united Ireland by peaceful means.

I listened to Senator Norris speak blithely of the heroes of the 1916 Rising. I take serious issue with the views of the Senator and those of the former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, who described the day Prince Charles visited Ireland as the happiest day of his life. Most of those present were reared on stories of Padraig Pearse and his comrades who fought for independence after 800 years of domination by Britain. Whereas the Scots were included in the development of the British empire from the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Irish people were suppressed and not given a chance to be successful. In 2016, we will celebrate the Easter Rising and the freedom achieved by those brave people who fought on these streets.

Two days ago, I listened to a radio recording of Mrs. Thomas Clarke in which she described Eoin MacNeill as a traitor for trying to call off the Rising.