Yesterday we got the news that Private Seán Rooney is to be honoured by the United Nations with a medal for his bravery in the loss of his life. This is a wonderful thing for the Rooney family, for the medal is a tangible remembrance of that man and the life he gave in the service of peace. I make a plea today, and ask the Acting Leader and Cathaoirleach to support it, that the Rooney family should be at United Nations headquarters to collect that medal. We should not hand it to an ambassador and let the ambassador…

Wish them well for an All-Ireland.

I too welcome our friends from Malawi. I hope they enjoy their time here. A new practice has grown in recent months, or perhaps the last year or so, where we are now lobbied with blanket emails. If someone sends such an email to me I will dump it without reading it. If people want me to do something they should send an email to Gerard Craughwell, Craughwell, or Mr. Craughwell or whatever the hell they want, but they should not send me one of those blanket, standard letters that are passed on. The Criminal Justice (…

Yesterday morning, the Women of Honour were interviewed on RTÉ's "Morning Ireland" and very clearly set out their opposition to what is going on with respect to the drafting of terms of reference for an investigation into the allegations - I stress the word "allegations" - that were brought forward by the independent review group. It appears we have a woke culture of civil servants and politicians coming together to ensure they get an inquiry that delivers the outcome they want, rather than the outcome that is requ…

I congratulate the Leader on her nuptials. It shows great dedication to the job that she is here and not off in some sunny part of the world. I wish her and her husband many happy years together and many, many children.

I come from a family of 11.

In the context of the evacuation of Irish citizens from Sudan, the Tánaiste made a big play at the weekend of thanking France, Sweden and the UK for their assistance. We thanked everybody for assisting us. We sent 12 of our people out to assist with the evacuation when we did not have to restrict the number to 12. The triple lock does not apply in humanitarian situations. We survived for 80 years without the triple lock and it is time we got rid of it. It was brought in to shut people up after the referendums on th…

The Garda Commissioner presented in front of the Garda Representative Association, GRA, in Westport yesterday. The issue of rostering of gardaí for both the GRA and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, is a major problem and we have known for some time that it is a problem. The Commissioner said he is not the only one who has to compromise. It strikes me that he is not willing to compromise because, going back to my trade union days, people who are willing to compromise sit around a table and th…

Is this a Fianna Fáil coup?

Shall we accept Senator Wilson?

My thoughts too are with the Defence Forces personnel. It is a pity only 12 of them have gone to Sudan. It is a humanitarian mission. The triple lock does not apply. We should have many more people there. The need for heavy-lift aircraft has once again been exposed. On 18 May 1988, 02789H, prison officer Sean O'Brien was on duty in Portlaoise Prison. I have been given permission to use his name today. Members will recall that this was at the height of the Troubles. I have been informed that during an escape attempt…

That is fine; no problem.

I find it strange that no evidence can be found in national archives, military archives or in the Department of Justice of this escape attempt in Portlaoise Prison. O'Brien has been diagnosed with a severe form of post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. Has the State got a duty of care to this man? Is he entitled to be looked after? I ask the Deputy Leader to perhaps put that question to the Department of Justice, because nobody else can get an answer. Finally, the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, is due to split into …

I stand before the Tánaiste today a proud veteran of the Irish Defence Forces. Every officer, NCO and service person of the Defence Forces, serving and retired, with whom I have engaged since the publication of the report has expressed a welcome for the statutory inquiry and for any Garda investigation of wrongdoing in the Defence Forces. All expressed strongly that any wrongdoing should face the full rigours of the law. Page 10 of the IRG report clearly states the IRG did not partake in fact finding with any indiv…

I did not deny the need for a statutory inquiry-----

The statutory inquiry will tell us all.

Some chance.

Hear, hear.

Well said.

Senator Byrne should get down off the horse.