Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh Ardmhéara Chorcaigh agus a mhac atá linn inniu fosta. I welcome the lord mayor to the Chamber.

I echo the sentiments of Senator Martin in relation to the very sudden and very sad death of Christopher Stalford, MLA. I have known Christopher for a long time.We were on Belfast City Council together. We travelled on a number of international delegations to the United States, in his role as chair of the development committee and my role as ardmhéara in Belfast. I knew Christopher before that, perhaps not in the same personal sense but certainly in a political sense, as he would often turn up at events wearing Union Jack socks and a pinstripe suit. One thing you could never take away from Christopher was his commitment to his unionist and, he would say, conservative views and the very articulate and passionate way that he advocated them. He and I had many disagreements on political issues relating to Ireland but also more broadly. I have to say, however, that I always found him a great character and a great wit. After a robust debate, I could join him for a cup of coffee or, dare I say it, even the odd pint, to have a really respectful conversation.

One thing that struck me in later years with Christopher was the real love and commitment he had for his wife Laura and their four children. They are first and foremost in all of our thoughts. Christopher's death is a big loss to them, his broader family, his DUP family and his constituents in south Belfast. On my behalf and on behalf of the Sinn Féin group and, I am sure, colleagues across the House, I extend deepest sympathies to Laura and Christopher's children.

I might return to this matter given the limited time I have available to me but the Leader will have seen coverage of our neighbour, the National Gallery, whose staff and a number of artists have taken issue with the award of a particular contract. I sense your eyes on me, a Chathaoirligh, so I will not go into the specifics around contractual and procurement issues. Nevertheless, the best artists are those who hold a mirror up to society and challenge some of its worst elements. Direct provision remains a real issue and a problem and concern for many people across society. I hope to return to the issue, but in light of what has been said in the public domain in recent weeks about the National Gallery, it is timely for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, to come to the House to discuss the programme for Government commitment to end direct provision and to give an update on that.