If it is appropriate, I wish firstly to say a few words on the mass murder in Orlando.

Yes.

Coming just a year after the joyous scenes that followed the passage of the marriage equality referendum in this country, the appalling crimes carried out in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, late on Sunday night serve as a stark reminder to us all of the need to maintain a relentless focus on building equality for all people. These crimes must be condemned for what they were, namely, appalling hate crimes against LGBT people. Great progress has been made in recent decades in the western world as we have moved towards a vindication of full citizenship for all people but the horrific events of Saturday night remind us of the need to avoid complacency. Research in Ireland tells us that one third of LGBT people have been physically or sexually attacked and half have been harassed in the past five years. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these attacks go unreported. Only 17 homophobic incidents were registered on the Garda PULSE system in 2013. Now is therefore the time for the national LGBT strategy, which examines all the needs of this community in Ireland, from tackling hate crimes and workplace discrimination to meeting the needs of older LGBT people and continuing to reform our education system to stamp out discrimination at all levels. I hope the events of recent times will spur us to move with absolute determination on that agenda. On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend my sympathy and the solidarity of my party to all those affected by the weekend's events in Orlando.

I wish to raise two issues on the Order of Business. Earlier today, together with our spokesperson on the arts, Deputy Burton, I met a cross-representative group of the arts community, people who are working directly in the arts in Ireland, to discuss Culture 2025. We have had the opportunity to build on the legacy of decades of commemorations. We have the opportunity now to produce an enduring and a lasting roadmap to build and copper-fasten culture at the heart of everything we do. To make this a reality, I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that the draft Culture 2025 document be submitted, before it is adopted, to the Oireachtas joint committee so there can be buy-in by all parties and representatives in this House regarding that really important matter.

Like the Taoiseach, I will be travelling to the UK later this week to advocate that citizens in the UK with Irish connections vote to remain in the EU. We know, and I will not rehearse again, the importance of this issue for this country. However, I am growing more anxious. I see the opinion polls today and the endorsement of one of the major newspapers in the UK for a Brexit strategy. I therefore ask the Taoiseach to update the House or at least, maybe privately, leaders of groups on Cabinet thinking and the Government's preparedness should there be an unfortunate exit vote in the next ten days in the UK so that we can be assured that the interests of this country are fully and completely safeguarded whatever way the people of Britain vote.

I thank Deputy Brendan Howlin for his comments on the Orlando massacre and I also thank the other leaders.

I asked that the Government fly the flag at half mast today on public buildings and hope to sign the book of condolence. There were multiple murders by Mr. Mateen in Orlando where 49 people were killed and 53 wounded at a night club. On behalf of the Irish people, I have sent a letter to President Obama indicating our solidarity with the American people and Government in the matter. I unreservedly condemn the latest appalling incident in the United States. That it occurred in the Pulse night club, a meeting place for the LGBT community, sends its own particular cowardly statement. I take to heart Deputy Brendan Howlin's point about discrimination here and the issues that still must be addressed following the marriage equality referendum and other issues relevant to the LGBT community. We will follow through on them.

I am happy for the draft culture report to be sent to the Oireachtas committee. It is a good suggestion.

I thank the Members of different parties who have travelled to Britain and Northern Ireland to make comments on Brexit. The result will depend on the turnout and whether people are sufficiently interested to vote on the issue. The evidence from many exporting firms here is that a Brexit would have a serious impact on this country in terms of competitiveness, efficiency, export capacity and so on. I will be happy to brief Opposition leaders. If the British electorate decide to leave the European Union, Ireland will not be leaving it. We have a very clear position on the issue. Ireland will continue to operate as a member of the European Union and speak, act and work in the interests of developing its potential. If Britain decides to leave the European Union, I will be very disappointed. It is very much in the interests of this country and Northern Ireland that Britain remain a strong and central member of the European Union. I hope, as people who intend to vote reflect on the issue in the coming days, that they will decide to vote to remain in the European Union. There are issues that need to be addressed. If Britain decides to stay, the agreement reached with the Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, and the other 27 member states will be implemented forthwith. If it decides to leave, these issues will fall, given that they are a one-off. Ireland has linked its future with the euro, the eurozone and the European Union by virtue of the referendum on the fiscal stability treaty a number of years ago. Lessons can be learned here about the necessity for change and the capacity of political leaders to effect change in the European Union in the interests of everybody.

The Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit wish to express their sorrow and anger at the horrific terrorist attack on the LGBT community in Orlando, Florida. We wish to show our solidarity with the LGBT community in the United States and internationally. We echo the view in the LGBT community that this should be an occasion on which to show unity and solidarity among ordinary people and that there should be no racist or Islamophobic response. It is more important than ever that the fight against homophobia which, unfortunately, affects all societies be stepped up in a serious way.

I refer to the export of Irish greyhounds to Macau.

It continues apace and is a virtual death sentence for the dogs. In Macau dogs that are not winners and that get injured are put down. As a result of the death sentence on them, the Australian state recently banned the export of its dogs there. As the Taoiseach will be aware, people here are campaigning for a similar ban, which would be right and proper. Shame should not be brought on this country by the export of dogs to Macau for racing and to be killed. Are there plans to introduce legislation to prevent the export of Irish greyhounds to Macau or any other country which does not have proper legislation in place guaranteeing the welfare of animals?

I am not aware of plans for the introduction of legislation in this area, but I will bring the matter raised by the Deputy to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and have the Deputy apprised of what is going on here or the intentions of the Department or the Minister in this regard.