Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach to the House and wish him well. I will touch on two key elements dealt with by the Taoiseach in his address. The first is Brexit, and as the Leader mentioned, we will hold our own debate on the issue. I very much welcome the Taoiseach's call for an all-Ireland dialogue. The Good Friday Agreement has passed its 18th birthday - the age of consent - and I hope people will see that the agreement has evolved over time, with a natural progression now being an all-Ireland dialogue on Brexit because it has implications both North and South, particularly in the economic sphere. We could have a common approach in viewing Brexit.

The second issue is our interaction with Europe. There is much talk that Ireland, as such, has no direct role in the Brexit negotiations vis-à-visthe UK and Europe. Ireland very much has a role in the navigation, as it wants to ensure our trade links with Britain are maintained. The UK is our largest trading partner and we have many common bonds. There is a specific role for the Taoiseach, acting on behalf of the Republic, to assist in a way that will ensure we can have safe passage through choppy waters.

If there was ever a manifestation of a reason somebody should be appointed to the Seanad, it is the example of Senator Lawless's contribution on emigrants. He raised new themes and issues today relating to the diaspora. I would like to see the measures fast-tracked, as the diaspora is a major issue. We all have family living in America and Senator Lawless spoke specifically about the US. Something practical could be done and I ask the Taoiseach to engage with the new US President, whoever that may be, as quickly as possible in that regard.