Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gan dabht ar bith, tá ár gcroíthe ar fad trom inniu mar gheall ar chloisteáil faoi bhás Mhartin McGuinness. Táimid an-bhuíoch don Cheannaire as ucht an t-am a thabhairt dúinn tráthnóna le ómós mar is ceart a thabhairt dó. We welcome the opportunity to give a proper account of the graciousness and the wonder of Martin McGuinness later on. I am looking forward to that.

I also join in the condolences that have been conveyed in the House to the families of Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith. At a further time, it will be important to have a look at the really important role that the Coast Guard plays. We all hope that the speedy recovery of the missing bodies will happen. I would also like to be connected with the condolences and sympathies conveyed to the family of Ryan McBride and the Haughey family.

There was a very important legal hearing yesterday. Mr. Peter Mulryan, one of the people who suffered due the situation in the mother and baby homes, was granted leave for a full hearing to gain access to his records from Tusla. I believe that is a very important milestone. I hope that the State will fully co-operate in providing information to those people who are still looking for information on what exactly happened in those homes.

I would also like to be associated with the sentiments of Senator Lawless on the referendum on voting rights for the diaspora. I agree with him wholeheartedly. I do not see why we would be dragging our feet on this referendum. I call on the Government to publish the options paper around the voting rights as soon as possible and to look for the speedy passage of that legislation.

I would like to invite Senators to a briefing we have at 6 p.m. in the AV Room on the implementation of the International Protection Act and the ongoing situation in direct provision centres. There is a very serious situation there at the moment causing difficulties for people who are seeking asylum. I hope that some Members will come along to listen to the stories that will be told. There are serious legal implications and issues being brought to the fore. I hope that we could have another debate in the near future in the House on the implementation-----