Unified Syria motion
The Leader said an all-party motion on Syria was being circulated and urged Members to present a united condemnation of events there.
As the Senator knows, timelines are tight, but I will be happy to try to facilitate her in that regard.
Senators Colette Kelleher, Ray Butler and Keith Swanick referred to the situation in Syria. As Members know, an all-party motion is being circulated and I hope it will be signed by the different groups as it is important that we send a unified message. We can argue about a sentence or a word here or there in the motion, but the overwhelming response from us should be a unified one in condemnation of what is taking place there. We can apportion blame in a different debate. We can argue until the cows come home about the example Senator Keith Swanick gave and the imagery Senator Ray Butler used in referring to the response he had received from the Russian ambassador, but people are being killed and displaced. Quality of life is being ruined and lives are being lost. It behoves all of us, therefore, to work to bring about a resolution. Whether one is a permanent member of the Security Council or a Member of Seanad Éireann, we must all work to ensure what we see happening in Aleppo and Syria is not condoned but condemned. We must all work to bring about a resolution.
I will be happy to arrange for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to address the issue of vulnerable children, to whom Senator Colette Kelleher referred. I know from talking to the Minister and her commentary in different fora that she is very progressive in dealing with the issue. I will be happy to talk to the Senator again about it.
Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin raised the very important issue of industrial relations. I am not going to pick a political fight with the Senator who is somebody who has very much been on the picket line with the ASTI, but it behoves everyone to engage in negotiations. I would have thought that the tone of the Ministers was conciliatory. If one reads the language used by the Ministers, Deputies Paschal Donohoe, Richard Bruton and Frances Fitzgerald, one will see that it is about engaging in talks.