Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I join everyone else in offering condolences to the family and loved ones of Private Seán Rooney from Newtowncunningham, County Donegal, whose home unit was the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk, on his tragic passing in Lebanon. To the families of the other injured soldiers, I say that hope they make a speedy recovery.

As this is the final Order of Business before the break, I want to thank, on behalf of the Fine Gael group, the staff of the Seanad Office. I thank Martin Groves, Bridget and all the team, including Eden and Ilinca, and I thank the Cathaoirleach for all the courtesy shown to Senators over the past year. We have had a good and busy session and I know staff members have been put under pressure at times by the business but we have had a positive year and I look forward to the new term in 2023.

We have had a wonderful and exciting World Cup, and the final between Argentina and France is coming up. I want to raise the case of the Iranian footballer, Amir Reza Nasr Azadani, who has been sentenced to execution for campaigning for women's rights in Iran. He and 11 other people have been sentenced to death as part of the raft of legitimate protests in Iran. I ask the Leader that his case be raised with the Iranian ambassador. We have seen appalling abuses in Iran in recent months due to demands for rights and some of us have met representatives of groups in Iran that are gravely concerned about the tragedies and executions that have taken place over 40 years in Iran. I ask that the case of Amir be raised with the ambassador.