Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend the contribution of my colleague, Senator O'Reilly, including the work he did in Belfast as part of that committee along with Senator Marshall and others. We have a responsibility to ensure that we develop, enhance and foster links with Northern Ireland and various communities there. I agree with Senator O'Reilly that the best way to do that is through sport, to create indelible links between GAA clubs and soccer clubs in the North and the South and other groups such as tourism groups. Maybe tourism facilities that are funded through the rural regeneration scheme and other grants should be required to run a special tourism promotional drive in the North, perhaps twinning with other facilities in the North. I recall the work that Clare tourism council did with the former Newry and Mourne District Council in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Those linkages were very important. Considering the challenges, uncharted waters and the stormy conditions that we undoubtedly will face, we need to develop links.

I was glad to note before I came in here that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, has apologised profoundly for what she said. It will be welcomed by all sides of the House. What she said was totally inappropriate and not proper.

As part of our engagement with civil society, and the address by the president of the GAA in the House last month was a very beneficial engagement, we should invite the directors of the Abbey Theatre, which is our national theatre, to present to the House in a similar way. I think back to our former colleague, Fiach Mac Conghail, and the superb contributions he made to this House.