Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the leader of my group, I wish to express my sympathy to those families who were bereaved so tragically yesterday as a result of the drownings in Baltimore. Most tragically, every summer, and particularly in the summer, drowning tragedies occur, and it is appalling. It reminds us all of the need for extreme care and caution around water, beaches, lakes and rivers.

I raised the issue of the commemoration of the Srebrenica massacre on yesterday's Order of Business and I am glad to report that, at my instigation, members of the Bosnian community have met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs concerning the holding of an official commemorative event. I also want to inform colleagues that members of the Bosnian community in Ireland are organising a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, which will take place outside Leinster House on Kildare Street at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 July. Anyone who is interested may attend and all are invited. I want to recall the appalling atrocity of the Srebrenica genocide, the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War, which occurred on 11 July 1995. This year is the 20th anniversary of that atrocity. A range of events are being held across the water and in Belfast, and we will have the event here next Tuesday.

I welcome the publication of the report on direct provision yesterday, which went to the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin. There was a good deal of publicity around the recommendations in it. I ask the Leader if a debate on that report can be arranged in early course. As the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, said, we need to examine how best to implement the important recommendations contained within it, which would greatly improve the lives of those currently in direct provision. It is an issue on which we have had cross-party agreement in this House - namely, the need to ensure greater protections for those in direct provision and greater adherence to human rights, particularly for children who are in direct provision along with their families. I would like us to have a debate on that. I very much welcome the findings of that report and welcome the recommendations made in it.

We might also have a general debate in due course on industrial relations with regard to business closures and having respect for workers. The Minister of State, Deputy Nash, was in the House yesterday dealing with the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill. I, along with many colleagues, met some of the former Clery's employees outside Leinster House yesterday. Those employees were treated with immense disrespect by the new owners of Clery's. Along with many colleagues, I signed a petition in support of the former employees who are seeking a meeting with Natrium, the new company with ownership of Clery's, and asking that it treat them with greater respect. We must ensure there is greater respect for both the employees and the concession holders, who were also so badly treated in the very sudden closure of Clery's, which was carried out without notice. I believe we can achieve cross-party consensus on the need to reform industrial relations in that area.