Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sure many Members saw items on the news about Hungary in the last 48 hours. I am sure many Senators will join me in expressing my dismay. For those who do not know, Hungary has amended its constitution to change the definition of family, preventing LGBT couples from adopting. Many people here will agree that this is an egregious backward step for LGBT people in Hungary and in Europe. I hope Senators will join me in expressing solidarity with LGBT people in Hungary, for whom this is a very difficult time. I also call on our colleagues in this House who are party colleagues with the party of Viktor Orbán. It is very concerning that they share a space with someone who is so determined to roll back LGBT rights when we have been quite a beacon for those rights.

I also wish to briefly mention the people who have been on the front line in the last year. I am particularly thinking of staff and students, who I would say have been on the invisible front line of the Covid-19 crisis. I hope they get the recognition they deserve in the coming months. Staff have worked extremely hard to support students during this time. Students have really been doing their best under very difficult circumstances. Some are really struggling and are wondering if they will be able to continue their studies. Yesterday I spoke to some staff who are doing everything in their power to get those students through the next couple of months and keep them in education so they do not lose out on a lifetime of opportunity because of the effects of the Covid-19 crisis this year.

I also hope this is the last Christmas for which student nurses and midwives are not paid as they should be, and for which we have a two-tier system that does not pay teachers fairly. I implore Members to think about front-line workers this Christmas; nurses, doctors, paramedics and all the people who will be working on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. We should think about how we will conduct ourselves over the Christmas period. I have family members who will be working over the Christmas period and I want them to be safe and well. I encourage people planning Christmas celebrations to keep them small and safe. We all know someone who is working on the front line and will be giving up their time this Christmas so we can all be safe.