Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin on a very pleasant note by following my constituency colleague, Senator Gallagher, in wishing Dr. Rory O'Hanlon a very happy 90th birthday and continued good health and enjoyment of life. He is one of the finest people we have ever had in political life and I have valued his friendship and wisdom down the years when we met at many public events. I also put on record my welcome to three guests of mine. Fr. Patsy Carolan is an Oblate father leading the Oblates in Inchicore and does extraordinary community work there. He had done a lot of work in London in Hope House and with people in difficult circumstances there down the years. I welcome also his brother-in-law Pat Maguire and Pat's son, who are guests of mine and will be in the Gallery shortly.

I turn to something raised by Senator Gavan earlier. I first congratulate the new Executive in Northern Ireland, including the First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, the Deputy First Minister and all the Executive members, and wish them well. In that context, I reiterate a point I regularly make that we should start a programme in addition to the special unit in the Taoiseach's Department initiated by the current Tánaiste.The sports capital grants should be linked. There should be extra points or credit in the sports capital grants for clubs that show a connection to Northern Ireland, such as evidence they visit Northern Ireland and play challenge and friendly games there. That is a small practical step. There should be more interaction with second level schools and third level educational institutions in Northern Ireland and a positive policy and direction to have exchanges of pupils and games, cultural exchanges and so on should come from the Government down through the education system. It is by building those relationships and connections from the ground up that we will ultimately achieve a united Ireland. That is what we have to do. On that basis, given the constraints of time, we will leave the development of that issue to another day, but I look forward to the Leader's response.