Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an gCeannaire chomh maith.

There are a couple of issues I wish to get through today and the first is that in the past week, we saw another day of quite severe disruption on the Belfast to Dublin rail line. There was a day of miscommunication and delays. We know of the economic and societal importance of that connection between the two major cities and what it brings to the economies and lives of both cities. It is time to ask the Leader to request an update from the Minister for Transport on the all-Ireland rail review and on where that is currently at. We cannot just wait for a review to be concluded and, hopefully, its recommendations implemented, when there are issues which are glaringly obvious in the here and now. There is a memorandum of understanding, MOU, between Belfast and Dublin city councils and central in that MOU is the importance and benefits to both cities brought about as a result of the rail link. The reality, particularly as we head into the summer months and know the benefits of tourism, is that we cannot afford to see these disruptions continue without an intervention at some level. I ask the Leader to request those statements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Second, we have seen a very worrying and devastating escalation in Jenin and the attacks carried out there. The death toll of Palestinians is now, I believe, somewhere over 30 since the beginning of the new year and we have also seen a number of Israeli people killed. It is crucially important that we hear from the Minister for Foreign Affairs on what measures we are taking at the EU in respect of the UN to very much ensure that our experience of conflict resolution and of peace building is to the fore, but also in respect of our humanitarian support for, in particular, the people who are suffering in Palestine.

We are seeing now some very extreme rhetoric from Israeli Government ministers, which is saying something, given the extreme rhetoric from Israeli ministers over the past number of years. We are also now seeing again collective punishment, which we know is a war crime, being carried out against the families of Palestinians who have been arrested, and against whom no charges have been brought or convictions secured, but yet their family homes are being demolished as a result. It is important that we hear from the Minister and ensure that the Irish Government and State are heard loud and clear on the international stage saying that apartheid is wrong, that it must end, and that the Irish Government will be active champions in opposing apartheid and war crimes.

Tomorrow is Lá Fhéile Bríde. I will not have the opportunity of speaking on the Order of Business tomorrow but I want to wish everybody beannachtaí Lá Fhéile Bríde, particularly my female colleagues in the Seanad. There will be a rally outside Leinster House at 12.30 p.m. and I know that Natalie McNally’s family will travel to Dublin. Natalie was murdered in Lurgan over the Christmas period and her killer remains at large. Like many female victims, she, and in this instance her unborn baby and her family, are awaiting justice.

This is a worrying time for women and we have debated that at length in this Seanad, not least under legislation the Leader has brought to the Chamber.I encourage colleagues to be present at the vigil tomorrow at 12.30 p.m. and to support Natalie and the families of all those women still campaigning for justice.