Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Republic is proudly an independent sovereign state, having won its freedom after centuries of struggle and at great cost. We are also, however, proudly European, dating back not just to our accession to what is now known as the EU. For over 1,500 years Ireland has contributed enormously to the security and culture of western civilisation. The long title of a book by Thomas Cahill sums it up very well: How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe.

It has been well documented that the majority of people in Northern Ireland are against Brexit. They do not want to ditch the protocol. It is worrying to recall what I hope is an extreme example of the British Government's attitude to Ireland. Some time ago a current member of the British Government was reported to have said that if Ireland did not do what the British wanted, Britain would cut off food supplies to Ireland. That caused grave offence. During the Great Famine our then so-called masters totally mishandled and mismanaged an unspeakable tragedy. British unilateral and mismanaged action cannot and must not be allowed to collapse the peace process.

While France, Spain and others have come to Ireland's aid over the centuries, our special, unique relationship with America is, with respect, on a different level. The contribution of America to creating the Good Friday peace agreement was pivotal. It has saved countless lives, and for that we are forever grateful. American politicians such as the Clintons, the Kennedys, Mitchell, President Biden, Kerry, Morrison, Moynihan, Foley, Pelosi, Boyle, Peter King and Tip O'Neill, to name but a few, are legends, forever etched in the minds of our gratitude. I am not forgetting the contribution of a young congressman from Massachusetts, elected a decade before the historic Good Friday Agreement, one Richard E. Neal. President Lincoln said that, in the end, it is not the years in your life that count but the life in your years. Congressman Neal's life makes us in Ireland proud of his honest stewardship and unwavering courage.

Some of my ancestors, like so many millions, took refuge in the wonderful United States of America. Many of them took up sport, including boxing. My grand-uncle, Vincent "Pepper" Martin, in one of the bouts he won was floored in an early round. I am glad to report that the following day, in the New York papers, the caption under the photo that had him on the floor stated that he was down but that it was far from a knockout. We in Ireland are politically down but far from a knockout. The baton of American peace guarantors has been passed on to the next generation, including Congressman Neal's dedicated delegation, which includes the surnames Doyle, Brady, Buchanan, Kelly, Scanlon, Neal, Kind, Kildee and Joyce. No, they are not togging out for an all-Ireland final. They have a different challenge on a different level. They have a gigantic challenge. We wish them well with the greatest hope, respect and gratitude.

Irish America, we need your help again. Thank you for your continued efforts to rescue, to save and to protect the precious peace. Please continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with us, north and south, east and west, all denominations and none. Please help us to do our utmost to ensure that the current scarce commodities of common sense, fairness and respect for the rule of law can be found and nurtured in order to help navigate our people through this most difficult time.