Seanad debates

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

2:30 pm

Photo of Martin ConwayMartin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish our former colleague and good friend, Senator Jimmy Harte, the very best in his continued recovery. We look forward to seeing him in the House again very soon. I also warmly congratulate our new colleague, Senator Máiría Cahill, on her election to Seanad Éireann. While she may think there is not a lot of time left in this term, I suggest that it is quality rather than quantity that matters in terms of her contribution to society. I point out to everyone that in the past 12 months, Senator Cahill has made a very positive contribution to this society and I have no doubt she will continue in that vein in Seanad Éireann.

Like everyone else, I condemn and express my outrage at what happened in France last week. We have a major problem with religious fundamentalism and the world order as we know it is changing quite dramatically. I agree that it is a good idea to get the Government's perspective on this with a statement from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, in this House at the earliest possible opportunity. Seanad Éireann has a role to play in terms of discussing and deliberating on such matters and I support Senator O'Brien's proposal in this regard.

As the Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on justice, I wholeheartedly agree with everything Senator O'Donovan said about the Garda leak that caused the headlines we all saw last Wednesday and Thursday. It is shameful that a person's good name would be undermined when that individual has not even been questioned by An Garda Síochána. I look forward to a full investigation into this matter. I understand there are now three investigations into media leaks from An Garda Síochána, which is a very serious matter. I look forward with interest to the results of those investigations.

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