Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Ivana Bacik, I would like to mention the important date today commemorates. It is exactly 100 years since the end of the First World War and it is appropriate that we mention it in the House. Among the casualties in that war were over 35,000 Irish people. Several weeks ago, with many of my colleagues from this House who are members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, I had the honour of visiting Flanders and many of the memorials to the soldiers who had tragically lost their lives. Among them, we visited the Irish peace park and tower, the brain child of former Deputy Paddy Harte, father of Senator Jimmy Harte from County Donegal. This memorial was opened on 11 November 1998, the first time the then President, Mrs. Mary McAleese, and the Queen of England had come together. It was the first time that the two countries had come together to celebrate the lives lost in the First World War. The Irish peace park has ensured Irish soldiers lost in the First World War will never be forgotten. By chance I happened to see a segment on "Nationwide" on RTE last night, dedicated to former Deputy Paddy Harte and the excellent work he had carried out in ensuring the Irish people who had lost their lives there would be remembered.

I would also like to raise the matter of the aggravated and serious burglaries that have been ongoing in recent weeks, particularly in Border areas. On Sunday night there was a most heinous crime of an aggravated burglary which involved an innocent family and children. Every resource needs to be put at the disposal of the Defence Forces and the Garda to apprehend the criminals involved as soon as possible.