Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in welcoming the Ukrainian ambassador. To her, I express Sinn Féin's continued solidarity with the Ukrainian people and again condemn in the strongest possible terms the immoral war being waged against her people by Russia.

I welcome the announcement this week by the Minister of State with responsibility for international development aid and the diaspora, Deputy Brophy, that the global Irish civic forum will return to Dublin in April next year. When the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement travelled to London last week, we visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith and met with the fantastic staff and volunteers there who are doing great work in engaging with and supporting the long-standing and established diaspora community, as well as the many new arrivals from Ireland who are setting up home in London. The centre does fantastic work and that was particularly the case during the pandemic, when many older Irish citizens abroad experienced feelings of isolation. I have asked several times for statements on the work of the Minister of State in respect of the diaspora. In light of the debate in the House last night, it would be timely for the House to also receive an updated on the work internationally on development aid. The Minister of State made the point that the issue of a referendum on voting rights will be a key component of the civic forum next April. It is an issue I raise often and I welcome the confirmation by the Minister of State that it will form part of the forum. We do not have to wait until April for an update in that regard or to engage with the diaspora on this issue. It is broader than that. It also impacts Irish citizens in the North. I would welcome the Minister of State coming to the House early in the new year, allowing a substantial lead-in to the forum, to give us an opportunity to air these issues, reflect on them and encourage the Minister of State to take on board our views.