Seanad debates

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Ned O'SullivanNed O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a very good idea to create a new bank holiday in order to recognise the work of front-line workers but I will not enter into a debate with Senator Craughwell now. This would be to recognise the heroic work that they have done for us to keep us all safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. I have no particular preference as to what that bank holiday date should be. I suggest that it would be very appropriate if we were to name such a new bank holiday the shared island bank holiday or day.

I am saying this because it would send a clear message to our loyalist fellow Irishmen that we mean what we say when we tell them that our political aspiration is that we can all live together on this island in peace, friendship and harmony. That is what we said to them when we voted overwhelmingly for the Good Friday Agreement and it is something that cannot be stressed enough, especially in light of some recent, regrettable controversy. No reasonable person could think that loyalists will ever be bullied or intimidated into a coerced constitutional arrangement that is anathema to them. Loyalist courage and resilience is not in question. The Provisional Irish Republican Army, PIRA, murder campaign proved that, if nothing else.

Certain elements choose to ignore or belittle loyalist opinion. This contributes nothing to the healing process that was the bedrock of the Good Friday Agreement. These elements seek to constantly attempt to frighten unionists with public declarations that a 32-county state is inevitable and that at some time in the future, the sectarian headcount will coerce loyalists into a nationalist Catholic state or force them out of their ancestral homes and that unionists just have to suck it up.These are quite insulting and may well be very dangerous, no matter if they are sometimes couched in the language of respect and reconciliation. We need to restate that we recognise in full without equivocation the legitimacy of Northern Ireland. It is in that context that I make my proposal that we have a shared island day in the Republic and welcome that perhaps there might be a reciprocal shared island day in the North.

I know that I am over my time, but before I sit down I know that the Cathaoirleach will want to join me, as Kerryman, in congratulating our fellow county man, Danny Tim O'Sullivan, who was granted the freedom of London yesterday after 50 years of philanthropy and help to Irish immigrants and people both in the UK and here in the Republic. He herded his sheep across Southwark Bridge in a time-honoured tradition and it would be nice that we would recognise that achievement for Dan here today.

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