Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will be speaking about the Northern Ireland protocol later. There is a broader issue on the building of trust between the EU and the UK and all parties on these islands. The Brexit committee, of which the Deputy Leader is Chair, has been doing a lot of work on these issues. It is very clear that we need to have greater co-operation, North-South and east-west, among parliamentarians and diverse elements of civic society. I hope we can have this debate or discussion, particularly in the context of discussions in the shared island unit on how we can build trust, North-South and east-west, between civic groups. There is far less engagement taking place now than there was at the time of the Good Friday Agreement and beforehand. It is important.

February will mark the centenary of the founding of the Civic Guard which became the Garda Síochána. I hope the House will mark the centenary of the Garda and acknowledge the contribution of the force over the past 100 years, in particular, to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in the service of the State. It is appropriate that we have a debate on the future of policing and look at policing on this island. If we are to move towards a new constitutional arrangement on the island, what will an all-island police force look like? These are the discussions we need to start to have. How will we deal with cyberterrorism, cybersecurity and some of the new threats that society faces? Perhaps as part of our schedule for next year, we can look at events to mark the centenary of the Garda and acknowledge its contribution. We need to have a debate on the future of policing.

It is only fair to comment on the announcement last night. It is unfortunate that we are moving in a particular direction. Much Government policy had been based, correctly, on our vaccination programme. We have had a very successful vaccination programme. The Government needs to stand up for those people who have been trying to do the right thing. We need to ensure we put first the interests of people who are vaccinated and the interests of our health service. It is very clear that people who are unvaccinated are six times more likely to end up in ICU than those who are vaccinated. We need to reward and recognise those people who are doing the right thing. I do not believe it is right that we should be closing late-night facilities, provided the publicans and venues are enforcing the Covid certificate rules on the door. We need to reward and recognise those who are doing the right thing. I know some people are not able to receive the vaccine. We have to recognise and protect them. To those who are unvaccinated and who are being so selfish, the message from the Government has to be that we will stand up for those who are being responsible.