Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and our guests in the Visitors Gallery. It goes without saying that there can be no electronic border, just as there can be no hard border, on the island. As the Minister said, it is unnecessary, unjustifiable and inconsiderate of our island of workers, families, tourists and students. Thankfully, the Seanad is united in one voice and on the same page. I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for bringing forward the motion on behalf of the team and I thank all the parties for supporting it. It calls on the Government to mobilise international and diplomatic influence to effect change. Will the Minister address that? Is that happening in terms of the development of secondary legislation or with the legislation? Are we mobilising international opinion?

On the tourism industry, Senator Carrigy was here. We sit on the joint Oireachtas committee on tourism. It will be something for us to look at but for the tourism industry not to even be consulted as a key stakeholder is incredible. Senator Currie mentioned the hassle and expense that will face tourists. For those of us lucky enough to travel abroad during Covid we know about the hassle, bureaucracy and stress associated with the pandemic, necessary as it was. This Nationality and Borders Act fundamentally affects the Good Friday Agreement so it is all the more important that we mount a united challenge, as my colleague has said.