Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask members to support these men who were forgotten.

When I recall what happened in the 1930s, I think of what has happened in the past few weeks and months with our near neighbours on the other island exiting the EU and now the United States has elected Donald Trump. They effectively want to retreat within their borders and build a wall. That wall should not be about a wall of minds. These were and are great countries. Ireland is now in a unique situation among the nations of the world. It can be a conduit between the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, of which Ireland is a very strong and active member. We can take that place. Dublin is an international city and Ireland is a member of the international community. I would like to think the Government will allocate an awful lot more resources to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and IDA Ireland in order that we might take the place to which I refer. Ireland has proven itself as a member of the United Nations. Various countries have been very good to us and now we must step up to the plate and try to work with our great friends in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. Our country has a great future as the diplomat of Europe and the world.