Seanad debates

Thursday, 7 March 2019

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Rose Conway WalshRose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The remarks of the British Secretary of State, Ms Karen Bradley, in the British House of Commons were disgraceful and deeply offensive to the families of those killed by the British Crown forces, publicly, formally and illegally, through collusion with loyalist death squads. The mentality demonstrated by the Secretary of State led to the killings happening because British Crown forces had impunity to kill at will with no consequences for their actions. It is clear from the remarks of Secretary of State Bradley that she is giving a licence to kill and impunity from prosecutions to those who killed and those who sent them out to kill.

Her remarks are a direct interference in the judicial process, coming as they do days before the decision on whether to prosecute British troops from the Parachute Regiment involved in the Bloody Sunday massacre. Her remarks also come after the courts handed down welcome decisions in the Pat Finucane and Pearse Jordan cases and after a decision was made to fund the legacy cases, something called for by relatives' organisations and the Lord Chief Justice in the North for years. The Secretary of State's remarks clearly show she has no sympathy for the relatives of those killed and no interest in assisting them to get the truth. She is more interested in protecting the killers. This is enormously upsetting for the families who have been waiting decades for inquests and the truth. It is appalling to see somebody in the position of Secretary of State come out and make those remarks.

I have just attended a presentation given by members of Border Communities against Brexit in the audiovisual room. I was really struck by their statement that the economic devastation that may result from Brexit might only be surpassed by the damage to the peace process. The group is calling a day of action on 30 March and for political parties, and others, to sign a declaration on Brexit. The devastation Brexit will bring was clearly outlined. In particular, a pharmacist spoke about the health implications in respect of shared services in the north west and the absence of any contingency plans. That is the case even with something as simple as the ambulances that cross the Border.

Ear, nose and throat, ENT, services serve counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo and Leitrim. How will that work after Brexit? Some 60% of medicines we get in this country travel through Britain. Clarification is also required on cross-Border cancer care for the Donegal Action for Cancer Care group. There also needs to be clarification on that issue. I know we have legislation coming through next week but these issues arise now in the ordinary lives of people. We need to hear from the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, in this House as to what these communities are to do post-Brexit, whether that is hard, soft or something else.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.