Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

We will support Senator Boyhan's amendment. I have come from a meeting of our group of five Senators where we looked at what is ahead of us in the next day and half where we have five guillotines facing us.It is unacceptable and is no way to do business. I hope Members will agree that we need to do something about it.

Today, I wish to again highlight the urgent need to recognise the heroes of Jadotville. I know this has been mentioned by several speakers in the Chamber but I believe we have come to a point where we need to do more.

Since I had the honour of being elected to the House I have listened to colleagues support the call for these gallant soldiers to finally get the recognition they deserve. Many continue to fight for this on their behalf. Recently, along with Labour Party colleagues, I received a reply from the Minister for Defence stating that in recent years his Department has had several representations outlining the courage and bravery of A Company. The Minister finished his reply by stating that he would consider any additional documentation, information or evidence to support any request for additional medals but that no new information had come to light.

I have spent the past couple of weeks speaking to families who have loved ones who were involved in this engagement. They continue to search for justice for their loved ones and continue to uncover new documentation on this important matter. I know they are in constant contact with the Department. They will never give up and neither should we.

I am informed that 11 or more county councils have supported this request in recent weeks. I was also informed recently that there may be nine surviving members from this engagement. I encourage everyone here to come together as a House to support this call once and for all. I call on the Cathaoirleach to show us how to do that, whether by letter or whatever else to the Minister for Defence.

Finally, I wish to take the remainder of my time to talk about the retail sector and the many jobs and services provided by the sector in our towns and counties. During this pandemic, many of us have been forced to change the way we shop. This has had an impact and will continue to have a serious impact in the coming six weeks on the many retailers throughout the State. Local enterprise offices have helped many retailers get online for the first time with grants to retailers as well the search and start initiative, a new online route for their customers. A recent article in The Irish Timespromoting 100 Irish-based online retailers stated that up to 70% of Irish consumer online spending leaves this country as people shop with multinationals. This must stop. We have to start shopping locally. We must start buying Irish as much as we can. Specifically, in the coming six weeks, we must do so to save as many jobs as we can. I encourage Members to get involved in that campaign.