Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the ambassador to the Chamber. I wish the Finnish people a happy national day as well. I had the pleasure of visiting Helsinki back in 2004 and it is a beautiful city.

First, I recognise the establishment 100 years ago of the Irish Free State. It was a turbulent part of our history. We know the divisions that ensued are still with us. It is important, at the same time, that we recognise the establishment of the Parliament here and all that we have achieved since then – the continuous democracy in this country uninterrupted since then, the peaceful transfer of power in 1932 and, subsequently, that historic coalition that was reached at the last Government formation as well between the two civil war parties. I am sure there will be other occasions to remember some of the happenings over the past 100 years as well during the course of the next number of months.

I have raised on numerous occasions the issues surrounding Inland Fisheries Ireland. Since the last time I raised it and commented that I wished to put matters on the record, my mother got a phone call. It was nothing sinister because we know the individual; it was just advising that perhaps I should be careful. I got another anonymous letter from somebody who told me they are an employee. I would rather they had come forward rather than writing me anonymous letters and if they have any issues they might go to the Garda rather than putting it to me. They did not sign the letter, but that is okay. I also had an ex-employee contact me, a good supporter of mine, again giving both barrels because they feel that I will say something. To cap it off this week, I notice from the correspondence on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges that the chief executive officer of Inland Fisheries Ireland has written to the Cathaoirleach.