Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One never knows who will finish up there. Senator Marshall is now a Member of this House, so one never knows. I note it and despite the bit of craic we have had, it is a very significant amendment and an important process, one that stands in stark contrast to the approach of Theresa May and her Government with their reckless position regarding the progress that has been made in respect of our economy, our political and peace processes and all of the agricultural and social components that have been outlined.

There is a blessing in Irish which I am sure many of us have heard - "go maire tú an céad" - which means may you reach the 100. Today, that most Irish of institutions - O'Neills - marks its 100th birthday. It is an institution with which all of us who are participants in or followers of a wide range of sports in Ireland such as GAA, rugby, boxing and many others are familiar. To me, O'Neills is a real case in point with regard to the potential threat of Brexit to our indigenous businesses. The O'Neills warehouse straddles the Border up around Strabane. It employs people from that wider Border region. It does a fantastic job not just with regard to the quality of product it produces and exports globally but also in providing employment across Ireland. It is a cause for celebration that it has reached this milestone but in the context of Brexit and what has been already said, we must ensure we do everything we can to make sure O'Neills sees out the next 100 years.