Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim leis an chomhghairdeachas atá seolta chuig an Cheannaire ar dea-scéal s'aige go bhfuil sé anois idir geall agus pósadh. I echo the sentiments of congratulations to the Leader on his recent announcement.

I echo the remarks by my colleague, Senator Boyhan, about the Seanad special committee's report on Brexit being published today. I commend the report to other Members if they have not seen it already. I understand that the Leader will be setting aside time for statements on the Brexit report next week to give us the opportunity to remark on it. I will await that to go into the finer detail. However, it is a significant body of work and the committee secretariat are worthy of our praise, thanks and recognition, as is Senator Richmond for his steady and astute stewardship and chairmanship over recent months.

To add to that sentiment, I want to reflect on and commend the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, for his clear remarks the week before last at the launch of the report on Brexit of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. He made clear his aspiration to see a special status achieved for the North, which is a stark change in tone from the Government and one that is welcome and, more important, necessary. Given the period we are in, there is merit in bringing in the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to update the House on the latest Brexit situation and his contributions to the talks, or lack thereof, currently taking place in the North. Not only were his remarks in terms of a special status welcome but I also welcome resolutely his remarks that the Irish Government supports a stand-alone, rights-based Irish language Act for the North. I consider that a responsible call and one that is in tune and in concert with the vast bulk of MLAs and the public in the North.