Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach agus leis an gCeannaire. I want to begin by reading into the record a quotation from the G7 leaders' communiqué:

We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), met in Elmau on 26-28 June 2022, at a critical juncture for the global community, to make progress towards an equitable world. As open democracies adhering to the rule of law, we are driven by shared values and bound by our commitment to the rules-based multilateral order and to universal human rights.

As the Leader is aware, Boris Johnson and the British Government are co-signatories to that communiqué. Currently, in Dublin, Belfast and London people are gathering to protest against the British Government's Bill of shame, the legacy legislation which will grant its forces an amnesty. It is legislation that causes deep concern domestically and internationally in respect of how it flies in the face of conventional understandings, and indeed, in its impact upon victims. We also know that currently, the British Government is legislating to break international law with its Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. I want to take the opportunity to reiterate our opposition to, and reassert the dangers and threats posed by, both pieces of legislation to peace, progress and the rule of law.While I understand it may be difficult to facilitate an update before the recess, maybe shortly after that it would be timely to have an update from the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on the all-island strategic rail review. We all know the importance of greater connectivity and in the context of the climate emergency, greater investment in public transportation infrastructure has never been more important. We all have seen the maps online of the devastation caused to rail networks and rail links all around Ireland. Consequently, it would be timely and important to have input from the Minister on how the review is progressing and how the Seanad can play a role in assisting that work.

In the limited time afforded to me, I will mention an issue to which I may return and on which other colleagues will also touch, namely, the agreement by the Cabinet to train Defence Force members to carry out security duties at Dublin Airport. Such an initiative is a shocking indictment of where we are at and would again ask the Defence Forces to effectively become security guards at Dublin Airport.