Mr. Seán Kelly:

Bhí áthas orm gur chuir an Leas-Chathaoirleach fáilte romhainn as Gaeilge agus gur labhair Billy Kelleher as Gaeilge ar dtús chomh maith mar tá an Ghaeilge ina teanga oifigiúil agus oibre sa Pharlaimint ó thosach na bliana seo. Déanann sé sin difríocht mhór do stádas na Gaeilge. Beidh a lán jabanna ar fáil d'ateangairí agus d'aistritheoirí amach anseo. Molaim mo chomhfheisirí mar, dhá bhliain ó shin nuair a chuamar ann ar dtús, thángamar le chéile agus dúramar go ndéanfaimis iarracht an Ghaeilge a labhairt sa Pharlaimint. Tá sé sin déanta ag na feisirí, agus ag Billy Kelleher ach go háirithe. Leanfaimid ar aghaidh mar sin mar níl aon mhaitheas sa Ghaeilge a bheith ina teanga oifigiúil agus oibre muna n-úsáidimid í. Tugaim aitheantas freisin don Ombudsman Eorpach, Emily O'Reilly. Nuair a bhí sí ag leagan a tuarascáil os comhair na Parlaiminte coicís ó shin, labhair sí as Gaeilge amháin. Bá é seo an chéad uair a tharla é sin. Dá bhrí sin, is dóigh liom go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go ndéanfaimid ár ndícheall á dteanga dhúchais a chur chun cinn.

I am also pleased that the Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, is making a big effort to reform the Seanad. I have no hesitation in saying that I voted in the referendum for the retention of the Seanad, because I felt that it has a proper role to play. It needed reform, not abolition. I am glad to see that reform developing. Only this morning, before I came here, I had a meeting, at the request of my Romanian colleagues in the European Parliament, with the ambassador from Romania here in Ireland. He is just up the road, at 26 Waterloo Road. I was pleased when he told me that a friendship group has been established between Romanian politicians and Members here. In particular, he mentioned a few of my own colleagues, such as Senators Sherlock, Buttimer, Conway and so forth. That is significant for two reasons. First, in a post-Brexit scenario, and Mr. Kelleher alluded to this, we have lost the British, who are without a doubt our best allies, in the European Parliament. We therefore have to look for new allies.

It is important to have close relationships, particularly at a national level, as well as at a European level, above all with the eastern countries, such as those who have most recently joined the European Parliament. This will stand us in good stead in the future. They are looking for allies. If we can play that leadership role, that will be significant. As of now, they are totally unrepresented in the key positions in the European institutions. All of the key people, such as the President of the Commission, the President of the Parliament and the President of the Council, the rotating Presidency, the President of the ECB, are here in the West. That is not a good thing. We have a role to play in ensuring that we have a closer liaison with countries. This is especially the case for those countries that joined the European Union but who were part of the USSR previously. I am delighted to see that the Seanad can do that, not just in relation to Romania, but with many other countries. I would like to see that advertised as well. Otherwise, people will ask what the Seanad is doing. It was wonderful for me to hear that this morning, straight from the mouth of the ambassador. He has only been here for six months. Therefore, much progress has been made and that is important.

In Europe, I thankfully have many roles, above all, those that relate to Brexit. Mr. Kelleher said, and he is right, that there is a certain Brexit weariness in Europe but, at the same time, we have to get on with it. We have to deal not just with the European Union but with the United Kingdom. There is a whole pile of areas in which I am involved with this, particularly in my role at the Committee on International Trade. I represent the trade committee, which meets regularly with the United Kingdom. The trade committee will have a hearing on the protocol on 21 March because I asked it to do so. That will be significant.

As well as being a member of the trade committee and representing it in Brexit, I am also on the Committee on Budgetary Control. Maroš Šefovi, of whom I am sure Senators will have heard, leads the European Union discussions. He feeds what is happening into the committee. One of the things I asked him at our meeting last week in Strasbourg, was to undertake a survey regarding the current state of the protocol in Northern Ireland. I think that he will do that, because it is significant from our point of view. The facts show that the protocol is working. It is working particularly for Northern Ireland. Trade between the Republic and Northern Ireland is up 65%. Of course, there are those who wanted Brexit, but for whom this was the last thing that they wanted. They never expected it to benefit the Republic. They thought that it would benefit a global Britain. They probably were not prepared for that. However, that is the reality.

My second point - which has come across clearly and I am glad of that - is that the European Union does not really play politics, as one might have to do at a national level. It works according to what it is entitled to do, which comes under the treaties. It observes the treaties. When an agreement is done, as was done with the the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, TCA, the EU is honour-bound to live by that, and it will do so. The idea of getting rid of the protocol will not be entertained. It would have knock-on effects and we will be working on that. There has been huge progress in the practicalities of it. They will be as flexible as possible. That will happen into the future.

My last point is on the Ukraine and Russia. The European Union stands 100% united in its view on what is happening. I must say that I was somewhat disappointed when we had a vote on that situation, as late as in December. It would surprise the Senators to see the number of MEPs from Ireland who did not support Ukraine and who sided with Russia. That should be looked at. That is not good, particularly when one looks at our history. We spent 700 years trying to get our freedom.