Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the debate on Brexit, I want to note that the British Labour Party's shadow Secretary of State yesterday endorsed the view that special European status should be given to the North. That is in line with the findings of Oireachtas reports and a vote in the Dáil. I would like our Government to put that proposition much more firmly in future. It is clearly a common sense proposition that is gaining ground. I note that very welcome development from the potential next British Government and potential next Secretary of State in making that declaration yesterday.

On Seanad reform, we have a lovely new room for now but we need a lovely new Seanad. We have legislation from the Manning report. Those involved were kind enough to draft the legislation. It does not require a constitutional referendum. It is not all that Sinn Féin would seek but we see it as a massive step forward in winning the hearts and minds of Irish people, including not just those living on this island but also those living abroad. I cannot understand why that legislation is not being progressed by Government. I hope that we will see it advance in this term and made law so the next time Members of the Seanad are being elected, the people will vote for them directly and we will have a truly representative Seanad. Hopefully, we can achieve that.

My final comment today is on the issue of flooding in Inishowen. I ask the Leader to note this. My hometown is Buncrana. Two issues there have really devastated and will continue to devastate our community. We have lost our key community amenity, called Swan Park. It was a beautiful riverside walk but it has been destroyed. The estimated cost to restore it is €1 million to €2 million. It will be closed for the foreseeable future. It is a huge loss to my community. Cockhill Celtic is a major junior football club in Donegal. Over 300 people of various ages utilise its various facilities. It has eight teams. Two of its three pitches have been utterly destroyed and cannot be played on. Hundreds of thousands of euro worth of damage has been done. In those two instances, we have not got clarity from Government on the financial relief that is going to be required. I urge the Leader to raise these issues with his colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, and indeed, the Minister, Deputy Michael Ring. We need clarification from Government that those two key amenities will be restored. I appeal to the Leader to get that clarification.