Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Many words of sympathy and condolence have already been spoken in respect of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I commend those who arranged a minute's silence in this House yesterday. I attended that with His Excellency, Paul Johnston, the British Ambassador to Ireland. I recall the Leader of the House, while she moved the motion of sympathy, including that we should remember people in the Republic of Ireland who also feel that they suffered a loss. I believe the last few days have done us all proud. Parliamentary democracy in the Republic of Ireland has responded in a uniform, respectful and appropriate way. That uniformity of response is not one of tolerance, but of overriding respect. I also feel that Scottish and Irish nationalism are very proud, but in the last few days they were also dignified before a global audience. They have shown us the way forward, which is never through threats, ultimatums and intimidation. They have probably inadvertently done more for Irish nationalism and Scottish nationalism in the last few days. I believe history will judge it as a pivotal moment of a measured response in a dignified, human way.

Just as the Queen had a sense of duty up to her last day, I also recall that Bertie Ahern, who was Taoiseach at the time that the Good Friday Agreement was being clinched, had an immediate family bereavement, but he put public service first. Little things in life matter. The Queen showed us that. Sometimes these are big things. It is often the little things in life that make difficulty and division, but we are one on the big things in life. The Queen showed in an inimitable way the power of gestures. A corollary of that is that gestures can also have a counterproductive impact. As we build reconciliation, we must all the time be acutely aware of gestures. It does not take a bold statement to offend and to have a setback. Gestures can sometimes prove to be destructive too. Queen Elizabeth II was a fantastic exponent of the positive power of gestures.