Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to reiterate my call for statements with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the implementation of the Irish protocol. We all agreed at the beginning of the term that we should not allow the issue of Brexit to fall off the agenda or the radar of the House. We are at a critical juncture in terms of getting information to people. The Seanad affords the opportunity to cut through some of the spin and some of the more misleading statements on the albeit imperfect protocol and the teething problems that many businesses have faced. It is a seismic change in the life of this island and between these islands and continental Europe, so of course there will be problems.

I do not want to rehash our united opposition to Brexit and all our unified warning calls on the dangers Brexit presents to us, but it is important for us to remember and articulate that there are opportunities for businesses as a result of the protections afforded to Ireland, North and South, as a result of the protocol that was arduously negotiated over a period of more than four years. We need to refocus our efforts to identifying the opportunities and supporting businesses in helping them reorient and develop their supply chains across the entire island.

There are other issues of concern beyond the macro issues around trade. Last week the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU was told by the Confederation of British Industry, CBI, about the mutual recognition of qualifications North and South and between Britain and Ireland. That was raised again at a meeting I held with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Assembly with the CBI in the North. We must continue to do the work, not only with questions to the Minister but also Commencement Matters. We need those statements to take place as urgently as possible.

Iarraim ar an Aire Stáit ráitis a chur ar fáil ar chúrsaí Gaeilge agus pobal na Gaeltachta go dtí seo. Ní raibh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Chambers, ós ár gcomhair sa Seanad agus tá orainn é sin a cheartú go háirithe agus muid ag dul isteach go dtí Seachtain na Gaeilge.

I call for statements on the Irish language. We are heading into Seachtain na Gaeilge at the beginning of March. I do not like the idea of confining statements on the Irish language to particular times of the year but it is timely for the many groups, organisations and the Gaeltacht communities given the issues they are facing as a result of Brexit and Covid.