Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some time ago, the Northern Ireland Assembly voted in favour of a Bill on marriage equality, which enjoys widespread support in Northern Ireland. I welcome the decision of the House of Lords last night to pass the first parliamentary stage of a same-sex marriage Bill for Northern Ireland. The legislation addresses the vacuum created by the failure of the assembly at Stormont to meet. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, LGBT, couples are denied the right to marry in Northern Ireland. I also welcome the introduction in the House of Commons today of a Bill providing for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. It is being introduced by Conor McGinn, MP for St. Helens North, who happens to come from south Armagh. The House must welcome these necessary procedures which will effectively provide for the legalisation of same-sex marriage for the island of Ireland in the absence of the assembly sitting at Stormont.

I congratulate my colleagues on the Seanad committee on Brexit on their successful trip to London where they met various groups and saw the difficulties at first hand. They also issued an invitation to Suella Fernandes, MP, a Minister in the UK Department for Exiting the European Union, and David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, to visit the Border region. I do not believe Ms Fernandes has visited the Border and Mr. Davis's first visit to the area was in 2016. Michael Barnier, Manfred Weber and Guy Verhofstadt have all visited the Border. It is vital that British politicians dealing with the Brexit issue also visit the Border.

Jean-Claude Juncker will also visit the Border when he comes to Ireland. He should address the Seanad given that previous visits to the House by persons of his stature gave us an important insight into European thinking and allowed them to inform themselves of our views about a hard border on the island of Ireland. I appeal to the Leader to ensure Mr. Juncker is invited to address the Seanad on important issues such as Brexit and Ireland's involvement in the European Union.