Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On this day in 1989 all of us were alive and probably watched the evening news as the Berlin Wall came crashing down, a moment we will never forget. We have just had a bitterly divisive US presidential election where one candidate, now the President-elect, decided to whip up anti-migrant sentiment and anger with the suggestion of building a wall on the Mexican frontier. Here, on our island, there are 109 so-called peace walls dividing communities and enforcing segregation. We want to see them consigned to the past.

There is a disgusting undercurrent of populist anti-migrant sentiment creeping into mainstream political discourse across Europe. What is happening in Calais and the despicable treatment of some of the most vulnerable people on this planet is vile. Many blame the likes of UKIP. However, the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, has a lot to answer for as he helped, through his actions, to unleash a level of mainstream bigotry on those of different colour and race. It is worth remembering that one in four doctors in the NHS is a UK foreign national. I used to be one of them. The British health system, no more than our own in Ireland, would cease to operate if these bigots got their way. The decision to hold a referendum to leave the EU was taken to appease the rebellious Conservative backbenchers who blame everything on Europe and foreigners. We are all now reaping the fruits of what Cameron and others have sown.

Separately, this Friday, as Senator Feighan noted, is armistice day. England play Scotland at Wembley in a world cup qualifier and there is an ongoing dispute with FIFA about the plan for both teams to wear a black armband with a poppy on it. In a great desire to appear even-handed, FIFA has decided to threaten the FAI and Ireland over the jersey worn, a photo of which I have with me, in the international friendly with Switzerland on 25 March last. The jersey displayed the beautiful 1916 centenary logo. Last week, a FIFA spokesperson said that the disciplinary committee of FIFA is evaluating the matter. Is it some kind of sick joke that an organisation which presided over criminal mismanagement and questionable financial probity would have the cheek to try to sanction Ireland over this? I remind Members that this logo is not the logo of the FAI, is not a commercial logo and is not a party-political logo. It is the logo of this State and it is proudly on display in images on the website of the President, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to convey to FIFA in the most polite terms that it should get its own house in order before it starts interfering in the official State logo we have proudly used in this centenary year.