Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like everybody else here, I congratulate Martin Groves on his appointment. I had the pleasure of dealing with the man during one of the most stressful periods of his life, my by-election, and found him to be more than professional. His is a tremendous appointment and I wish him well for the future. I hope I too am here for many, many, many years with him.

On the issue of President Trump, the press has a huge case to answer. On the day millions of women all over the world marched against Donald Trump, his press officer said that the press reported the wrong number of people at his inauguration. What did the press do? It swallowed it. It is printing what he wants it to print.For God's sake, what happened to the media that would hold people to account? What happened to the media that would once question the likes of Donald Trump?

I also congratulate my colleague, Senator Lawless. On Sunday evening in Chicago he was out there representing Irish people with Irish fears. That was a brave thing to do for a man who works and has his business interests in the United States. He was not shy today in standing up and criticising the new Administration. I think we are extremely lucky to have a man of that calibre sitting in this Chamber with us.

On the issue of Brexit, I along with Senator Black attended the Queen's University Belfast seminar last night where we had some of the greatest legal brains on the island speaking about the implications of the Supreme Court ruling. I am rather shocked. This is the third or fourth seminar or debate or conference that I have attended where Brexit has been the topic of discussion. In one, I was the only representative from this country. I understood that Brexit is the single greatest issue facing the Irish economy, and I am asking why members of the Government parties are not attending these meetings.