Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús, déarfaidh mé cúpla focal do Trevor Ó'Clochartaigh ar an ócáid seo. Bhí brón orm nuair a chuala mé an nuacht that Trevor was resigning from the Seanad - on his own terms. Not every person gets to leave office on their own terms.

I pay tribute to Trevor for his work on the issue of the diaspora. I have attended many events with him. I know he has worked very hard on the issue of the undocumented in the US, the forgotten Irish in Great Britain and so many other areas, even the ones that are more difficult and challenging but are equally important for those who are returning such as driver licences and insurance. It is work for which one does not get any votes but that is not what he is in here for and it was not what he was doing over the past seven years. He was working very hard on behalf of everybody, most recently on the issue of Catalonia on behalf of humanity rather than the people of Galway West.

The fact that he was looking at issues outside his immediate electoral area and outside this island shows his breadth as a public representative. He is not retiring so it is not like he is leaving office and going off to sun himself on a beach. On the occasion of the closing of Moriarty's Bakery in Kenmare, which had been run by three brothers for 49 years, the brothers put a little handwritten note on the window thanking all their customers and said, "Now we must learn the lesson of how to spend time without spending money". I am afraid this is not the occasion for Senator Ó Clochartaigh at this time but I wish him the best in the future, as does everyone in the Fianna Fáil group.

I welcome the announcement that the Government will pay the fuel allowance. I know the Taoiseach was unable to confirm it yesterday in response to questioning from all sides. The Government needs to put in place a formula so that it does not have to take up so much Dáil time, as was the case yesterday, so that on occasions such as this where a red weather alert is likely, it is automatically included. I know the person responsible for advocacy and communications in Age Action Ireland and all the other agencies dealing with this issue welcomed that announcement but the Government needs to create a formula whereby this would become automatic rather than it turning into a political football. There is no need for that on an occasion such as this.

Speaking of political footballs, in exactly 14 minutes, we will see the release of the documents from the EU regarding Brexit proposals. We should bear in mind that what is proposed with regard to the North and South is the default position if the British Government cannot come up with any better ideas. However, as it has not come up with any better ideas since the vote in 2016, it is unlikely that it will do so now.

It was amazing to hear Gregory Campbell of the DUP bemoaning the fact that the EU has not put in the legislation it is proposing regarding the arrangement between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. That is an internal UK market and issue and nothing to do with the EU. If it had included such language, it would be attacked by the Brexiteers for doing so. We must bear in mind that this is based on the agreement that was signed in December. I pay tribute to the Tánaiste and the Government for making sure it was robust and ensured that there would be no divergence between the North and South of Ireland. Hopefully, the language that will appear in exactly 12 minutes will show that, which will mean that there will be no return to the Border of the past. We must bear in mind that there are 275 Border crossings between the North and South of Ireland along a 499 km Border. During the Troubles, only 20 of those remained open. We do not want a return to that and a return to violence.

My niece and grandchild-----