Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I formally second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Billy Lawless.

The annual report of Amnesty International which was published yesterday and widely covered in the media last night and this morning raises questions for and criticisms of Ireland, notably on housing rights, discrimination against Travellers and the Roma community, national security and deportation and refugees and asylum seekers. The resettlement and relocation of refugees were also mentioned. These have been singled out as the key issues in the report. Former Senator Colm O'Gorman is now head of Amnesty International Ireland. The report is meaty and covers important issues. I would appreciate it if the Leader asked the relevant Minister to come to the House for a debate and a discussion on the specific issues raised.

I welcome the proposed establishment of a committee on Brexit. My colleague was a little premature in congratulating the Chairman of the committee because it is ultimately a matter for the Seanad to approve its establishment. There is a proposal before us and it is open to anyone to put his or her name forward, but that is not to say I do not wish Senator Neale Richmond well. He is a former colleague of mine in Dún Laoghaire and I will be supporting him, but it is premature to congratulate anyone on the post as the decision has not yet been made by the Seanad. It is part of the proposal we will have to consider.

We owe congratulations to our Green Party colleague, Senator Grace O'Sullivan, who this very week received the most prestigious award of Green Leader of Ireland at a ceremony in Ballsbridge the other night. It is a great honour for her. It is great that a Member of Seanad Éireann should win this huge competition and was presented in a packed hotel with the award of Green Leader of Ireland in 2017. She is worthy of our congratulations and support.