Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach. I welcome him back to the Seanad. I am glad to hear of his commitment to Seanad reform now that the question of abolition is firmly off the table. As others have said, we have a blueprint for reform in the shape of the Manning report and I note that the Taoiseach has expressed his support for it. We need to see action, however, and a timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations.

As the Labour Party's spokesperson on foreign affairs, I have a number of issues to raise with the Taoiseach, the first of which is Brexit. We have already spoken a great deal about Brexit and the Taoiseach has addressed it himself. I welcome the stated Government priorities and the announcement of an all-island dialogue. We passed a motion in the Seanad in July mandating ourselves to have a comprehensive dialogue and debate in this Chamber calling in, among others, MEPs and Northern Ireland's First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I hope we will contribute to the debate. We must look at creative ways of moving forward. I had an interesting meeting with Alex Salmond MP earlier today and we spoke about the possibility of a separate legal status for Northern Ireland and Scotland in the wake of Brexit negotiations based, for example, around the Lichtenstein model. We must look at all the options as we move forward in the process.

On our relations with the EU more generally, I noted with interest the Taoiseach's speech in Bratislava. While it is important to commend him for his emphasis on our neutrality, I note the need to hold the line on that in particular in light of Jean-Claude Juncker's speech calling for a centralised common defence policy in Europe. We need to ensure we take a strong stance in defence of our own neutrality.

On the question of refugees which others have mentioned, I welcomed very much the commitment of the previous Government to welcome 4,000 refugees from Syria and through the European hot spots in Greece and Italy. However, I am very concerned by the slow pace of progress, which has been noted by the Tánaiste in recent weeks. Can we expedite the process to ensure that more refugees are brought in and can we see the implementation of the recommendations of the Mahon report on the reform of direct provision, which was a priority of the former Minister of State, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin? I received an e-mail update today from Médecins Sans Frontières describing the appalling situation in Aleppo and the very large number of civilians who face siege in rebel held areas under bombardment from the Syrian Government and Russia. The 250,000 people in question have access to only approximately 30 doctors. The USA announced today that it will take a much stronger stance against Russia and I would like to think that Ireland would take a role within the EU to press for a similar stance given the apparent abandonment by Russia of the peace process.

On an issue closer to home, I ask with other Members that the momentum for the repeal of the eighth amendment be recognised within our political system. I am glad the Taoiseach spoke of the plan for a citizens' assembly which I hope will recommend a referendum for repeal. When will that be held? Can we have a very clear timeframe for the process of referral of recommendations to the Oireachtas committee and then to the Dáil and Seanad? The momentum is clear and we need to see the repeal of the eighth amendment.