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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Legislating after Clerys

Summary

The Senator says Clerys workers need more than sympathy and urges legislative or other measures to prevent similar treatment in future.

I would like to be associated with the condolences expressed on the tragedy in California involving so many young Irish people. I have family living in that part of the world. I sympathise with those young people and their families and commend the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the consulate for taking immediate action.

The workers at Clerys need more than sympathy. As Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell said, we should be asking what we can do to ensure this does not happen, either by way of revised legislation or whatever.

I did not see the "Collusion" programme last night, but a famous man I knew extremely well, who had seven young children, the eldest of whom was 13 years of age, was taken from his cow byre and shot in south Armagh. Nobody was brought to justice. The relatives did not know we would be discussing this today. I had the occasion to meet a very fine lady in the United States. When she introduced herself to me I said, "Not the Finucane," and she said "Yes". Pat Finucane's wife introduced herself to me and I had a long discussion with her. He was killed in front of her and her children and she is not happy that the case has not been fully investigated. I call on the Leader to bring it to the attention of the Taoiseach who might raise it again with the British Prime Minister as soon as possible.

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