On 25 November, groups from across Ireland came together to honour the forgotten fallen of the National Army Civil War dead. Representatives of the deceased families, veterans, members of the public, public representatives and expert historical groups came together to honour the memory of those who gave their lives for the foundation of the modern Irish State. As of yet, these 1,000-plus men are not commemorated in any formal Irish State commemorative ceremony. Their stories have been forgotten and their service is…

The Leas-Chathaoirleach welcomed the children of Gurteen Central National School from east Galway. These are fifth and sixth class pupils in the school. This epitomises what goes on in Irish education. This is a small, rural school where kids are being looked after, educated and brought through the system. We sometimes do not give our national schools enough credit for the amount of work they do. The principal is here today and he will not be home until late tonight. Again, people do not recognise this. One of the …

I rise today to propose a motion that Seanad Éireann recognises the Holodomor - inflicting death by starvation - of 1932 to 1933 as a genocide on the Ukrainian people and that its 90th anniversary, which will fall on 26 November 2022, we show our solidarity with Ukraine in commemorating this man-made famine, which was inflicted on the Ukrainian people by the deliberate policies of a totalitarian Stalinist regime, which resulted in millions of innocent lives being lost. I want to recognise the ambassador of Ukraine,…

Yes.

It is great to see the coalition working.

I move: That Seanad Éireann recognises the Holodomor (inflicting death by starvation) of 1932-1933 as a genocide on the Ukrainian people and on its 90th anniversary on 26th November, 2022 we show our solidarity with Ukraine in commemorating this man-made famine which was inflicted on the Ukrainian people by the deliberate policies of the totalitarian Stalinist regime which resulted in millions of innocent lives being lost.

I too want to stand with Aimee Foley, along with my colleagues here. She is a very brave woman and I hope that we can see something good come out of this. Yesterday, I spoke about the death of Caitríona Lucas in County Clare and the appalling fact that that woman’s family has been waiting six years for an inquest, which is completely unacceptable. Evidence has now come to me which suggests that the lifejackets in use in the Coast Guard at that time were faulty. There is documentary evidence that the faults in the l…

Speaking as a veteran of the Defence Forces, I welcome the Minister. I am confused sitting here today. I have heard Members talking about neutrality and military non-alignment all in the same breath. These are polar opposites. We have a huge problem when we start talking about neutrality. Let us take a definition of neutrality from the Department of Foreign Affairs. In paragraph 4.5 of chapter 4 of Challenges and Opportunities Abroad: White Paper on Foreign Policy, which was published in 1995, neutrality is defined…

By the way, I am fully supportive of us not being neutral-----

-----but it should have come to this House.

The Acting Chairman is asking me to shut up.

Let me finish on this. I support the abolition of the triple lock because the United Nations Security Council is an organisation that is not fit for purpose. It is a waste of time, and totally and utterly toothless. I regret I will not be here to hear the Minister's reply because I have got to leave the House but I will read it. I thank the Minister and the Acting Chairman.

I second Senator Boyhan's amendment to the Order of Business seeking the moving of No. 128(5) regarding the naming of the children's hospital. Last night we were treated to a view of two gardaí being beaten in Dublin. Sadly, it is not just Dublin; it is happening everywhere. Members of An Garda Síochána put on their uniforms and go out to work in the evenings expecting to come home in the same physical state. My own young brother, God be good to him, when he was a garda, was severely beaten on one occasion. At that…

Hear, hear. Well said.

There is nobody joining up either.

Hear, hear.

I and all Members of the Independent Group join in offering sympathies to Ms Doody. I have lost siblings and it is very difficult to live with. My heart goes out to her and I ask that this be conveyed to her. On 29 May 1962, the LÉ Clíona , while participating in an annual exercise south of Roche's Point in County Cork and firing patterns of depth charges, suffered a premature explosion from a charge. The ship went on fire and able stoker Mr. William Mynes cut off the fuel supply in order to save the ship. Mr. Myne…

It is not good enough.

From the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, I expect.

It is okay. He can kick it over to the Minister.