Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There have been three requests to amend the Order of Business. To clarify, I can accept the Labour Party's amendment and that of Fine Gael. I am not sure if Senator Boylan meant to finish her statement that she would like the Bill taken after the Order of Business.I cannot take the Bill after the Order of Business but I can have it added to the Order of Business and taken later today, if that is what she meant. I hope it was. If that is the case, I can accept the three amendments today.

Senator Ward asked for a debate on China and its treatment of Taiwan. I will request such a debate with the Minister at the earliest possible date.

Senators McGreehan and Ó Donnghaile both raised the very unpalatable non-announcement leaked, possibly deliberately, yesterday regarding a unilateral decision of the UK Government to renege on the agreement made at Stormont House. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach both said yesterday that such an action would be an absolute breach of trust and a breach of an international agreement, which would not be accepted. I acknowledge the contributions of both Senators. The heart-breaking human stories Senator Ó Donnghaile raised this afternoon only reflect one side of the debate. It would have been more apt for him to take a more balanced approach because there are many victims and families of victims who have been grieving and seeking retribution for many years on both sides of that debate.