Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Order of Business as set out by the Acting Leader. This morning, she and I have both come from the gates of Leinster House on Kildare Street where we joined with fellow Senators, Deputies, activists and the National Women's Council of Ireland to celebrate the anniversary of the referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, which took place this day four years ago. Many of us were involved in that campaign. I feel I got involved at the 11th hour because the campaign began 35 years before that date and many of the women involved then are still involved today.

We envisaged that there would be some difficulties in implementing the will of the people and ensuring equality of access for women across the county to these legally available services. Some of those problems persist today and they are part of what we will be looking at in the review of the legislation to ensure we get it right for the women and girls of Ireland. We stand with fellow Members, activists and women across the country in once again pledging our support to ensure the legislation is properly and fully implemented, there is equality of access and we address any additional and outstanding concerns. We will work with colleagues across parties on those issues in the coming weeks and months.

I also want to speak about the horrific mass shooting that happened yesterday in a primary school in the United States. It is the 27th such shooting this year. My heart goes out the families of the victims, to the other students who witnessed it, to the two teachers lost and to that community. I have no doubt that people across the United State are heartbroken at what has happened.

It is with utter disbelief that we listen to the commentary from some public representatives, both Congressmen and Senators, suggesting that the issue is not gun control. They have moved on from wanting to arm teachers and some are now suggesting they should have armed police on school grounds. I listened to Larry Murphy on the radio this morning. His views were very strong and I concur with his remarks. It is abhorrent to suggest putting an armed police force in schools rather than changing the gun laws in the United States. There is a majority view among the public that there should be tighter gun controls, as well as from many public representatives, yet the National Rifle Association seems to have a vice grip on a majority in American politics. I concur with the remarks of President Biden on this. We hope these representatives will act and that this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, but there is pessimism across the United States that anything will actually happen. There will be an outpouring of grief and solidarity and then people will just move on and it will be forgotten about and consigned to the history books. It is shocking.

President Biden was correct in pointing out that lots of countries have mental health issues and other challenges, such as civil unrest and different issues that pop up from time to time, but no other country in the world is dealing with mass shootings in schools like the United States is. The issue is gun control, not those other issues. I extend our support, solidarity and deep sympathies to the families and communities of those who have lost loved ones this morning, those very young second, third and fourth graders. It does not bear thinking about but it is important that we speak about this issue, highlight it and advocate for change.