Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo the words of others by acknowledging Senator Norris's return to the House and wish him well in his recuperation.

I commend the family of Margaret Keane in Coventry, England. Members may have read about the case on social media. Margaret's family had to lodge an appeal following a decision by the Consistory Court of Coventry, which initially refused an Irish-only inscription - in ár gcroíthe go deo which means in our hearts forever - on Margaret's headstone. The Chancellor of the Diocese of Coventry said that it could be interpreted as a political slogan. If one can read, understand and speak the Irish language, one will know very clearly that in ár gcroíthe go deo is not a political statement. That ruling says to me that if one does not speak, read or understand the Irish language, then one just assumes something is a political statement because it is written in Irish. This says quite a bit about the thinking many Gaeilgeoirí have faced and, in some instances, continue to face. I am glad to say that following the appeal, Margaret's family were successful and will get to have an Irish-only inscription on their mother's headstone. Margaret was steeped in the Irish language and culture and in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael in Britain. As is obvious, it means a tremendous amount to her family that this has been allowed. I wanted to take the opportunity to say comhghairdeas leo, agus maith siad as an seasamh a ghlac siad. Déarfainn go mbeadh a máthair iontach bródúil as.

I want to touch on the Sinn Féin motion, which was passed by the Assembly earlier this week. This motion acknowledged the importance of North-South and east-west trade to the economy in the North. It supported the protections afforded to all of us by the protocol. It called on the Executive to develop an overarching economic strategy involving all key stakeholders that will layout a clear vision to government and non-government agencies with economic responsibilities, so that we can help develop the supply chains across Ireland to the benefit to all our people. That was a positive and welcome piece of work.

It would be right and appropriate if we were to replicate such a motion in this House that acknowledged the protections of the protocol and that worked with economic and business agencies in this State to encourage and layout a vision for them to develop their supply chains and an overarching economic strategy that maximises and implements the protections afforded by the very hard-negotiated and hard-won protocol. That is something I want to flag with the Leader and colleagues. I intend to table a motion in the Seanad.I will engage with colleagues and I hope it is something they can support.