Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have been asked by members of the Irish-Bangladeshi community in Ireland to raise the current situation regarding the former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia. She has been imprisoned and her supporters want her to receive a fair trial. They feel that in order to hold free, fair, participatory and inclusive parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, she should be released. Her case is very important. I ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come in here and outline the Government's view of the situation.

On Saturday I shall attend a ceremony at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge. For far too long we have ignored and airbrushed from history the sacrifices of 49,000 Irishmen from the island of Ireland. Since 2006, we have come to terms with our shared history and with two sides of our history. However, I believe that 95% of the population in the Republic do not know where the memorial gardens are located even though they may drive by them virtually every day. Other countries give a higher profile to such sacrifice. Therefore, I propose that the memorial gardens are located in a more central location such as Merrion Square. Again, the gardens were conveniently located in the countryside because people wanted to airbrush this part of our history.I am so happy the country is embracing all sides of our history.