Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to extend my condolences to the Coghlan family. I was very saddened to hear of Paul's death. We were very different politically, but when I first met Paul, I think I was trying to break the ice and I went to fist pump him instead of shaking his hand. He kind of ducked for a minute and I had to explain that I was just saying hello. From then on, that was how we greeted each other, whether in the corridors, the canteen, the Chamber or at any events. Paul came running at me with his newly-learned fist pump and a "Hey sister". That is how we greeted each other and it is how I like to remember him. He adapted to my way of greeting instead of expecting me to shake hands in a much more formal way. I want to remember him today, his life and all that he gave to political life.

I would also like to briefly raise the news today around the outside of the Street 66 premises and the decision with regard to outdoor furniture. I know that the premises had an outdoor seating licence during Covid but a new licence had to be applied for to install a more permanent outdoor seating structure. The application was denied but I do not know how long a business has to appeal such a decision. I am not sure when the denial of permission to install outdoor furniture came in or how long any appeals process should take In the interim, bike racks were installed. There is lots of space around the city to erect bike racks but there is not a huge amount of visible space for the LGBTQ community. Street 66 is one of those very obvious places and it feels like there is a pushing back of the visibility of that community on the street. That is something we should be pushing back against or at least asking more questions as to why the bike rack was put outside but the application for furniture structures was denied.