Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday's Order of Business was a special occasion. It was fitting, appropriate and a dignified occasion. I commend the Cathaoirleach, the Leader and all Senators on making it a very special moment for any Senator to be present for. I hope and do not doubt that Senator Norris appreciated it. Yesterday reminded us all of the importance of public service and that public service to the people and to your communities matters and of how one individual, in 26 years of unbroken continuous service, could make such a big impact and did so as an independent. He was probably the sole or biggest reason the House was retained at the time the Government of the day tried to abolish it. People looked to the likes of David Norris as a fine ambassador for this House.

I had intended today to seek leave from this House to introduce my Bill, the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024, but realising that, under Standing Orders, Senator Norris would be gone as soon as it was announced by the Cathaoirleach I took the decision to move the Bill yesterday so I would not have to remove his name as a co-sponsor. He kindly agreed to do that. I thank the House for facilitating this and for granting me leave to introduce that Bill yesterday on that very special occasion. It was important and an honour to have David Norris as a co-sponsor of the Bill.

What I did not have time to say yesterday, which was rightly devoted to Senator Norris, was that on behalf of the Green Party grouping I also wanted to wish Niall Ó Donnghaile well. I always found him to be a most courteous, articulate Senator and he was a passionate republican. He might be described as a new brand of a younger Sinn Féin and many parties in the Republic came from a dark past.Sinn Féin probably rightly gets the spotlight because its association with violence to achieve political aims is of a more recent type. Whenever I heard the former Senator, Niall Ó Donnghaile, speak here, he held firm on the future. He never looked back and he always had a constructive role. He was a huge advocate of the Good Friday Agreement and the new Ireland we want to see. It would be churlish of me not to mention the former Senator's contribution. It is also great to have a northern voice from Belfast in this Chamber. It is not for today but I hope that is brought into consideration when a replacement is considered for this House so that we do not lose that northern voice.

When we talk about the Good Friday Agreement, it would also be slightly churlish not to mention a guy called Gerry Adams who had something to do with that. We need to be generous and acknowledge Gerry Adams. Sometimes he can be airbrushed out of the history of that fantastic peace deal. I am delighted Senator Warfield is here today. I did not have time yesterday on behalf of the Green Party group to pass on our very best regards to our former colleague, Niall Ó Donnghaile. I hope he is keeping well.