Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wonder what I am walking myself into. Perhaps I am missing something.

I give my condolences and sincere sympathy to the family of David Hill and his colleagues, and to our own colleagues who have spoken so eloquently today and from such a heartfelt place. It could not have been easy for any of them, so our thoughts are with them as well. I am a big supporter of any kind of cross-community sports. I think sport is a great leveller and it brings people together. In fact, this Sunday, in Seaview in Belfast, the Limestone United under-16s football team from north Belfast will take on Palmerstown Football Club, who are from west Dublin, close to where I grew up. That is being supported by the Cathaoirleach and the Mental Health Commission chief executive, John Farrelly, and there will be an emphasis on mental health on the day. Sport is a great leveller and a way we can come together. I know there was a shared island dialogue on this recently as well.

I also want to reflect on the 800 P&O workers who were brutally and shamefully sacked a few days ago without any consultation or advance notice. It is owned by a Dubai-based company called DP World and the action has not been taken under Irish law, but there are an estimated 25 workers from the Republic and 35 from the North. A strong message needs to go out from this Government that that is just not acceptable. Is there any opportunity to engage with our counterparts in the North on this issue? As I said, the message needs to go out that it is not acceptable that they would be replaced by people who are going to work for less. We need to take that very seriously in terms of provisions here so no other companies can take the same steps.