Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cosúil le mo chomhghleacaithe, guím beannachtaí na féile Bríde ar achan duine. Is céiliúradh Bríde, céiliúradh na mban agus céiliúradh thús an Earraigh é inniu. I join colleagues in wishing everyone a happy St. Brigid's Day. This is a celebration of Bríde. It is a celebration of women. Ultimately it is a celebration of the start of spring and the triumph of light over darkness. I have been given a very special job by rang 4 i mBunscoil Bheann Mhadagain i mBéal Feirste. The primary 4 class, whose teacher is my friend Diarmuid O'Tuama, has asked me to give a crosóg Bhríde to President Michael D. Higgins. I do not know as a branch of the Oireachtas whether he can be included in the internal mail. It is a serious job that I will take very seriously. I hope that on behalf of all of the daltaí i rang 4 i mBunscoil Bheann Mhadagain that he receives it well and it brings him good health and good luck.

I commend the dignity, grace and determination of the Bloody Sunday family survivors. Many of them have campaigned for decades for truth and justice for their loved ones. Typically, and unsurprisingly, they are women and have led from the front in the campaign. I appreciate and note the Cathaoirleach was in Derry on Sunday for the events as were the Taoiseach and leader of the Opposition. It was important this range of political leadership joined the community on the streets of Derry for the 50th anniversary. I send our best wishes and solidarity to those families and all those campaigning for truth and justice for their loved ones. I hope that the Acting Leader will agree that we should have statements from the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the situation in Palestine given the shocking report that was released by Amnesty International this morning. The report tells us what we have known all along, which is that Israel is implementing and rolling out an apartheid system of injustice, brutality and oppression against the Palestinian people. While we often hear the Government talk about the role on the UN Security Council and the important place that this State has in the EU, it is really important that we hear from the Government what actions that it will take in response to the report and, indeed, in response to the proud Irish tradition of standing actively in opposition to apartheid in South Africa, and what we are going to stand against when it manifests itself against the Palestinian people. I call for statements on Palestine with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.