Calais children and border security
Senator Wilson supported relocating unaccompanied children from Calais, then shifted to concern about border security, the closure of Dún Uí Néill Barracks, and the need to restore Army support to the civil power. He also criticised the Government’s stance on attending a Taiwanese celebration.
I endorse the comments of Senator Rose Conway-Walsh on the campaign being conducted by Not On Our Watch with regard to the unaccompanied children who are at present in Calais in the so-called jungle camp. It is incumbent on all of us to do whatever we can to relocate these young children into states that are democratic and peaceful. That includes not only this State, as alluded to by Senator Conway-Walsh, but also states like Britain and the Six Counties of Ulster that are under the governance of Britain at the moment and, in particular, under the governance of Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party. I encourage the Senator to speak to her comrades in Northern Ireland and request that they progressively follow this campaign to relocate these unfortunate young children.
Regarding the rolling debates on Brexit, when does the Leader intend to bring the Minister of State with responsibility for defence into this House-----
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-----particularly in regard to the security of our State and of the Border? As I have mentioned here on numerous occasions, the closure of Dún Uí Néill Barracks in Cavan has caused huge concern-----
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-----to the communities in the Border region that they serviced. The Army, in conjunction with the Garda Síochána, protected this State for decades and now a large portion of the Border is unprotected. Two viable improvised devices were located in a housing estate in Cavan town last weekend. This is the work of dissident republicans. It is the work of people who can go about their business unhindered because we do not have our Army on the Border.
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Our stretched members of Garda Síochána are doing their best but the aid to the civil power is missing and it needs to be reinstated as a matter of urgency.
I want to endorse the comments of senior Senator David Norris on the diktat the Government issued to its Deputies, Senators, Ministers and Ministers of State not to attend a Taiwanese celebration of their country held recently. It is amazing that a Government would encourage democratically elected Deputies and Senators not to attend a function to celebrate a progressive democracy. To be dictated to by an oppressive Communist regime such as China is regrettable and a disgrace.
