Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Others have spoken already about the US presidential election result and clearly that is the issue uppermost in everyone's mind today. I call on the Deputy Leader to organise a debate on foreign policy in this House in light of that election result because there are serious implications for Ireland on which other speakers have touched. Ms Hillary Clinton's defeat is a huge disappointment for progressive politics, the cause of women in politics, and for Ireland. It is fair to say that the undocumented Irish, the many people whose status in the US is uncertain, will be very concerned today. Not only the Irish but many others will be facing a period of real uncertainty this morning. Donald Trump's victory has huge implications at international level in terms of climate change agreements - in respect of which he has made some comments - and of US foreign policy more generally. I would like a debate on the cause of women in politics because the level of misogyny expressed during the US election campaign will be very off-putting for many younger women considering a career in politics. As somebody who has always worked very hard to try to ensure that more women enter politics in Ireland and elsewhere, the outcome of the election is really worrying. We need to express strong commendation of and support for Hillary Clinton and her campaign team for putting up such a strong fight and for ensuring the prospect of having a woman President in the US is no longer just hypothetical but is a real prospect. I hope we will see that prospect come true for our daughters' sake, if not for our own.

I welcome the calling off of the ASTI industrial action and hope we will see a resolution through the talks and the intervention of a third party. It is very welcome for all concerned.