Seanad debates

Wednesday, 24 May 2023

Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad

 

10:30 am

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery a man who has played a vital role in our peace process. Rev. Harold Good was one of the architects of the ceasefires. He worked closely with Fr. Alec Reid in the Clonard Monastery to bring people together and show them a new way forward. Rev. Good will forgive me if I misquote the Bible. I am sure he would be able to quote it much more accurately than I, but it does state that whoever saves one life, saves the world entire. Through his own actions and those of the people he worked with, Rev. Good managed to bring an end to the violence in Northern Ireland. For that, we are eternally grateful.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the ratification of the Good Friday Agreement, which was tortuously negotiated by the parties in Northern Ireland. This agreement was only made possible, however, by Rev. Good having sat down with people on all sides to ensure peace came to Northern Ireland. This then allowed for the agreement to move forward. I also welcome his wife Clodagh to the Seanad. She is from the great city of Waterford and her father was from west Cork. We will not hold that against him. We thank them both so much for honouring the Seanad with their presence today. I again thank Rev. Good for all the work he did in Northern Ireland. We are very grateful for the 25 years of peace that has ensued and the Seanad is honoured to have Rev. Good here as one of the few people who started that process. We are delighted he came here today.

Members rose and applauded.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We would all like to be associated with those remarks and with welcoming Rev. Good to the House.

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Burke, the former Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. I will allow other Members to briefly say a "thank you" to Rev. Good. This is a bit unusual, but we do not have such an honoured guest coming in to us so often.

Photo of Frances BlackFrances Black (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I am honoured to be here. I heard Rev. Good speaking at the event held last night as well. He genuinely has been a great asset to the work undertaken in bringing peace to this country and we are deeply grateful to him and many others involved in this process. I warmly welcome Rev. Good and his wife to Leinster House and hope they are having a nice day. I thank him so much. Go raibh maith agat.

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Black. I call Senator Garvey.

Photo of Róisín GarveyRóisín Garvey (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I stand humbled in front of our guest. I very much appreciate the work of Rev. Good. A deep moral, ethical and spiritual sense can have a major impact on people and I appreciate Rev. Good for that reason. Sometimes, we forget it is not all about the head. There is also the heart, and he definitely played his part in bringing that deeper social and spiritual aspect to the process. I really appreciate that. It is great to have him in the House.

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I again thank Rev. Good and his wife. I hope they enjoy their stay here in Leinster House.