Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will make a quick point on Senator Pauline O'Reilly's contribution. The milk bank in the North was featured in a recent segment on the news. It has been impacted by the Covid restrictions and is seeking donations. It is encouraging mothers who can contribute to do so. The importance of this service is that it provides for babies who are sometimes very ill and very vulnerable in hospital. Given that the Senator mentioned the issue, I thought I would take the opportunity to reinforce the call the milk bank has made.

I echo the congratulations of others for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. As we all know, and has been said here over the course of recent days, the President-elect has deep-rooted connections to Ireland. He is a proud Irish-American. He has been, and no doubt will continue to be, a steadfast friend to Ireland. At this point in time, we need our friends. While I appreciate and fully understand that people here want to investigate as much as possible and, dare I say it, lay claim to his geographical lineage, perhaps with a view to getting him to visit, we have more important asks of the President-elect and the US Administration at this point in time. It is really important to take the opportunities provided to us to again articulate some of those asks. All of us will have the opportunity to speak to friends in the United States over the coming days and weeks.It is really important we reinforce the message of solidarity that is required for Ireland in these very tempestuous days between now and the end of the transition period.

Our priority must be to continue to encourage the new Biden Administration to stand firm on its very clear and welcome commitment to protect, defend and uphold the Good Friday Agreement. I hope the new Biden Administration will also bring a new era for American foreign policy more generally, which puts solidarity and justice to the fore and which rows back on some of the disastrous and awfully cruel policies taken by the current President, not least with regard to refugees, Palestine, Cuba and many other areas as well.

In finishing, I note the very significant announcement yesterday on a potential Covid-19 vaccine. We are advised it is cause for hope, although not yet celebration. It is important in these days that we have and sustain hope. We will have the opportunity in this House to discuss the Covid-19 level 5 restrictions but it is important to hear and understand any plans that the Government has in place to roll out any safe and medically compliant vaccine that gets to those who are most vulnerable and in need in a quick, efficient and free way.