Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 17 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business today. I wish first to recognise, as Senators Coffey and Mark Daly rightly said in their contributions, the importance of the flag and what it symbolises. I commend Thomas Francis Meagher on giving us the Tricolour. As Senator Coffey has said, we should reflect on what the Tricolour represents. It is important that we remember Thomas Francis Meagher on this day and, equally, as Senator Coffey has said, the role played by John Redmond. As the country celebrates a decade of commemorations, it is important that we recognise all parts of this country, all sides, all denominations, all people, all religions, all colours and all races. We may be an island nation but we are at the heart of Europe and not on its edge, which gives us enormous credibility across the world. Last week, President Trump designated March the Irish-American month in the United States. Next week, An Taoiseach will travel across America and will represent all of us. It is important that we stand strong as a nation and remember the sacrifices and heroism of so many people who got this country to this point. Like Senators Coffey and Mark Daly, I urge people to remember what Thomas Francis Meagher did today so many years ago and I wish Senator Coffey well when he attends the commemorative events in Waterford.

I join Senators Swanick and Ardagh in welcoming the St. Brigid's home school liaison team from the Coombe area who do Trojan work in this city. I wish to highlight the importance of home school liaison and the significant role that it plays not just in the Coombe area but across the county. The scheme is a vital and important part of the education system. I thank Senator Ardagh for welcoming the delegation to the House today.

In terms of the contributions made during the Order of Business, I started on a positive note and I am reluctant to commence a discordant attack on Senator Ardagh. However, it is ironic that Senator Ardagh unfortunately lamented the fact that water is a challenging issue in the capital city and in some parts of the country when her party played absolute populism with Irish Water. Her party played Molly Bawn with the Irish people in 2016-----