Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am from Ballycroy, County Mayo, and live in Belmullet, which is between Achill and Ballina. With a name like Cooney, there is nowhere else but Achill Mr. Cooney could come from. It is lovely to have him here and he is very welcome. I also thank Billy Lawless for facilitating Mr. Cooney's visit.

I will raise a couple of questions that are asked of Senators all the time. Mexico received 58,000 waivers in 2011 alone and other countries such as Israel, Venezuela and Australia participate in the waiver scheme. Why does Ireland not participate in the scheme?

On the Good Friday Agreement, are Mr. Cooney and the advocacy groups in the United States aware of the threats posed by Brexit in terms of the possible introduction of a hard border? What role can they play in putting pressure on the Irish and British Governments to ensure the Good Friday Agreement is implemented in full?

Will Mr. Cooney set out his views on voting rights for Irish people living abroad? My brother, who is an American citizen having spent a long time in the United States, can vote in US presidential elections but he and other members of the diaspora do not have any say in this country? What can Mr. Cooney do to facilitate them?