Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh mo chomhghleacaithe, Francie agus Mickey, fosta. On behalf of the Sinn Féin group in the Seanad, I want to convey our deepest sympathies to Private Rooney's family. We send our solidarity and support to them and to all the families of the soldiers who were injured alongside him.As colleagues have said, we often discuss issues affecting the Defence Forces and we often talk about them at a macropolitical level. This is the most tragic reminder that behind that, there are men and women serving with great distinction in our peacekeeping efforts around the world. They are the priority. I hope the outpouring of sympathy, solidarity and support for the families will give some comfort and solace to Private Seán Rooney's family over what will be, no doubt, a harrowing period for them, his friends and his community.

I note the launch this morning of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality's report and look forward to reading through it. I also look forward to hopefully getting time to discuss its recommendations in the Seanad come the new year. We need to bring about a number of important, outstanding changes as a society but constitutional amendments are also required.

This brings me to my last point. I hope we will see, as early as possible in the new year, a referendum Bill on extending the franchise for presidential elections to citizens outside the State. It is a programme for Government commitment. Parties across the board agree on the issue. I believe it would be very positive and hopeful campaign. Anything that enfranchises, enables and emboldens citizenship is to be encouraged and welcomed. Other colleagues have already mentioned Ireland's diaspora and the valuable contribution they bring to our lives here. Very often, we ask them for that contribution. This would be a way to acknowledge their citizenship and their link and value to us. It would also be a very clear expression to citizens in the North that no matter what community they come from, they have a stake in the Presidency and in ensuring we have a President who represents the Irish nation in its broadest and most inclusive sense.

I thank Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and the whole team in the Seanad Office, the Leader and Deputy Leader and all those who provide us with the first-class help and support we receive. There are too many to mention but we know who they all are. I believe I can speak for everyone when I say, without wishing to sound clichéd, that we really could not do it without them. I wish everyone a happy Christmas and happy new year.