Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Burke's amendment.

I agree with Senator Ó Donnghaile's remarks regarding the Taoiseach's comments on a united Ireland. I think he used the word "unity", which I very much welcome. From my work in the last ten years on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, I know the idea of a united Ireland would bring hope to many of us but to others it would bring pain and fear.We need to come up with a new term, such as unity, one Ireland or Ireland together. It is a term that should be inclusive. We need a debate because with Brexit, this is an interesting time. Previously, I have mentioned Ireland participating in, associating with or rejoining the Commonwealth. All of these should be in the ether because they all bring a future for the island of Ireland. I would like to see the people of Ireland and all traditions and all sides unite.

We saw what happened at the European championships, with Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland supporters along with many others behaving and bringing great joy. Yesterday in The Irish Times, a leading garda called for soccer banning orders. He is very worried about the level of violence at League of Ireland soccer matches. I raised this issue nine or ten years ago, when I saw Setanta Cup matches being played. I felt there could be a deterrent. There has been some violence but, thankfully, 99.5% of the games have been great. I have always felt this issue needs to be tackled. It is becoming more weaponised. There is now category A violence, and a soccer match with a crowd of fewer than 5,000 people has the same amount of security and gardaí as would be at an all-Ireland football final. Something is wrong and this needs to be dealt with. Last night, I watched a local derby between Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians. I do not believe there were 4,000 or 5,000 people at the match but one could see the number of gardaí. It is not just in Dublin but around the country. We need to bring in the Minister and ask for football offences legislation and perhaps stadium banning orders. We need to give the gardaí and football clubs all the protection we can.