Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Might I begin where the last speaker left off and support Senator Ó Donnghaile in those remarks?The behaviour of Lord Kilclooney, who is a very experienced politician of many years standing, was infantile, racist and wrong, and beyond what should be done by an experienced politician or indeed by any person of mature years or of any cop-on.

I join in the universal welcome for our two new Senators and congratulate them on their great achievement in polling extraordinarily well and being elected. I wish them both well. It is clear that they will be making an enormous contribution. I had a wonderful day yesterday when I attended the civic forum on Brexit in Dundalk. It was a very heartening occasion. It was wonderful that at the outset, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and all of our party leaders were there making excellent presentations. Many young people made presentations of high quality and there was genuine civic engagement. The most important thing about the day was that Michel Barnier was present. Yet again, on at least three occasions in response to three different questions and various curve-balls, he unequivocally stated European solidarity with Ireland. That should be acknowledged and applauded in this House. We should be very proud of our Government, diplomatic service and permanent Civil Service in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since the beginning of the Brexit issue, they have achieved a European awareness of our situation. There is a European consciousness of it and support in virtually every European capital. I had the privilege of attending the Council of Europe last week with colleagues from this House, including Senator Hopkins, who is on my right. I met delegates from every country and raised the Brexit issue with them informally and, in one or two instances, formally. In all cases, they had an extraordinary awareness of our problem and support for it. The Irish Government, our permanent Civil Service and our diplomats abroad should take a bow. This matter is so important to me because the people in my community, along the Border in Cavan-Monaghan, stand to experience economic and social devastation and potentially a breakdown of all societal norms if we do not avoid a hard border. I offer the House's appreciation of Michel Barnier's stance and ask our Leader to endorse it and to give us an assurance that it will be continued.