Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I begin by welcoming Senator O’Loughlin’s mummy. I am sure she is all cut with all the attention she is getting today. It is great that she has picked a morning in which we are in a collegiate, happy mood and all saying nice things about each other, which is right and proper. I also welcome the latest member of the Civil Engagement Group, Billie White, who is Senator Flynn’s daughter and who is joining us here today. It is great to see her in the Chamber. I am looking forward to hearing what she has to say. I will move on to my own business for today.

I congratulate Laochra Loch Lao, which is Belfast’s Gaeltacht football team. It plays Gaelic football in the Gaeltacht quarter. At the weekend, its women’s team became Antrim’s junior B champions. I congratulate them. Comhghairdeas ó chroí leo. Bua ollmhór a bhí ann, bua stairiúil don chumann. Táim cinnte go mbeidh said ag tógáil air sin agus ag iad ag bogadh ar aghaidh. Comhghairdeas arís leo.

I commend the organisers of the Ireland's Future event that took place in the 3Arena at the weekend. I know many Members were in attendance and represented. Our Cathaoirleach contributed. It was an interesting, diverse and worthwhile discussion. I am not just saying this but genuinely thought the most powerful part of the day were the contributions from the Rev. Karen Sethuraman and Ben Collins. They both come from the unionist tradition and both gave thoughtful, open and honest contributions to the debate on our constitutional future and change for the better for all of us. That chimed well with the event we held in this Chamber on Friday with the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. While I think I said this already, I want to say it again, the morning session of that debate involving the young people was particularly worthwhile. I know Fridays are busy, but if colleagues get the opportunity, they should try to come in over the next couple of weeks to listen to the voices of young people. If it is anything like last Friday, it is an important, powerful part of the work of that committee. I look forward to more of that. It shows how important the debate is.

It is apt that the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords will be with us this afternoon. I know the Deputy Leader will have an interest in the change in tone from the British Government. I hope it is representative of the real need to return to a positive negotiation of issues regarding the protocol and to return to the core principles of protecting the Good Friday Agreement.We have heard some very negative sabre-rattling from the DUP over the past couple of days, from people who have always opposed the Good Friday Agreement. We as a Seanad, an Oireachtas and, indeed, the Irish Government, need to remain steadfast as we head into the 25th anniversary. Talk of the funerals and the burials of the Good Friday Agreement are really regressive and negative. I do not think that we should be overly shook by that but I do think we should reaffirm our forthright commitment and dedication to protecting the Good Friday Agreement and, more importantly, seeing it fully implemented in the time ahead.