Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be sharing time with Senator Boyhan. We will take four minutes each. Cuirim fáilte chuig an Teach seo roimh an Aire Stáit agus cuirim fáilte speisialta roimh an Uasal Liam Shannon, who was one of the 14. It is great to see him especially and I thank him for coming. I support Senators Ó Donnghaile and Conway-Walsh and the Sinn Féin motion 100%. It is really important. We are dealing with many other important things and this is absolutely up there. If we do not support human integrity and fairness, what are we about? I ask that every colleague here, every Seanadóir, support this 100% and I am sure they will. Let us make a really strong statement here.

It is a very important and hugely valuable to have an Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile's input into the Seanad because he brings a perspective in respect of Ireland and of people that perhaps we, including myself, do not have. I very much appreciate that. Gabhaim buíochas leis as ucht an chur i láthair agus as pointí agus rudaí mar seo a chur i láthair an Seanaid.

This is not a political matter, as Senator Conway-Walsh said. This is something we stand for as individuals and as people. It is a matter of what is right and what is wrong. As a nation we only comprise 2.5% of the population of Europe, but we punch above our weight. I ask an tAire Stáit to give this 110%. I support him and the Government in this. People like Mr. Shannon and others deserve it. As Senator Mark Daly put it so well, this is not just a national, Irish thing, this is a worldwide situation. Let us create precedent and let us not accept no for an answer, because there are people who deserve this, including not only the 14 hooded men but other hooded people from all over the world. We have to stand up for those people whom we will never know nor ever meet.