I offer heartfelt thanks to all involved yesterday in the commemorations of the First Dáil. It was a magnificent and fitting event. I was privileged to be part of it as a Member of the Seanad. I never thought that would happen. The Seanad was recently saved by a referendum but if it was not for the determination and steel of those people 100 years ago, there might have been neither a Dáil nor a Seanad and that is worth remembering. It was also a moving and personal occasion for me because I grew up hearing about one Member of the First Dáil, a man named Phil Shanahan, from a small place, Foilmacduff in Hollyford, County Tipperary. My late mother, Judy, was my teacher and instructor in the case of Phil. Her family, the Daverns, were fast friends of the Shanahans in Hollyford. I was delighted yesterday to meet Phil's great grandniece, Emer Fhatherta, who was there to remember Phil. My mother told me of his lifelong commitment and the sacrifices he had made, about his family members, specifically his sister, Sarah, his hunger strike and generosity. He went from being a comfortable publican in Dublin to his death in November 1931 in poor circumstances. He was in Jacob's Factory with MacDonagh. His pub in the heart of Monto was a home from home and a meeting place for other Republicans. I spent last Saturday night with his grandnephew, Ramie Shanahan, in the same place where Phil had returned to spend his last years before his death. I saw the treasure trove of documents, papers, memorabilia and talked into the night.

It struck me that in the Seanad we should consider some way by which we might be a focal point to remember, honour and promote a better understanding of the lives of these people, their motivations, family circumstances, interests, places of origin, families and comrades. Yesterday in the Mansion House The downgrading of history was mentioned. Such a focus as this, possibly carried out throughout the year, could reignite the curiosity and interest of the young and not so young in the lives of these ordinary people who did extraordinary things and gave us a legacy to which we have a responsibility to live up. I would be happy to support any such initiative and ask the Leader if he will consider something along these lines.

Phil was a Teachta Dála for Dublin Harbour. He beat the unbeatable Alfie Byrne to take that seat but there were four other Tipperary men. Pierce McCan died from the flu in March that year. Séamus Burke went on to be a Minister in Cosgrave's Government.

There was also Joseph McDonagh, brother of Thomas, and P. J. Moloney who, like me, was from Tipperary Town. He had his home burnt out. They are minor anecdotes of the lives of what I call ordinary people who did extraordinary things. We might consider some ways throughout the year to give some impetus to it.

Like previous speakers, I commend all of those involved in the organisation of yesterday's very successful and impressive Dáil 100 centenary event in the Mansion House. I was privileged and honoured to have been present to listen to the very dignified, respectful and appropriate way in which we commemorated the important first sitting of the Dáil 100 years ago. As a member of the Labour Party, I was pleased and heartened by the emphasis on Tom Johnson's democratic programme and the important values and ideals espoused in it. It was beautifully portrayed. The event was organised in a really tasteful and appropriate way. I commend the communications unit, the Oireachtas staff, the Ceann Comhairle's office and all involved in organising it. The Labour Party had its own event on Saturday to launch its rewritten democratic programme for the 21st century. We will be highlighting it during the year. Senator Dolan spoke about how to reignite interest. It is really important that all of us look in all sorts of ways at commemorating and highlighting the centenary of the First Dáil and ensure different aspects of it are honoured and commemorated.

I thank the Leader for organising the statements on Brexit. They are timely. It was in marked contrast to the shambles at Westminster to see the Dáil and the Seanad holding the joint sitting in the Mansion House yesterday. We will have an opportunity to talk about Brexit later.

I echo the words of others in condemning the car bombing in Derry and those involved in carrying it out. It reminds us of the really serious and very real fears that a hard border will follow if Britain crashes out of the EU on 29 March. The European Commission confirmed today that a no-deal Brexit would mean the return of a hard border. That is a really serious worry for everyone.

I ask the Leader for a debate on the follow-up to the legislation we passed just before Christmas, which I am glad to see is now in effect. I refer to the legislation allowing for terminations of pregnancy. Many of us were concerned last week by reports of one particular case in the Coombe Hospital which was reported as being dealt with in a way that was somewhat troubling. I hope we will see less of that. The publicity about the case in question was of concern generally. Other events in recent weeks have shown us the really urgent need for the legislation to protect women accessing services at GP clinics and hospitals. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, promised that the relevant legislation would emerge in early course this year. I will be pressing for a debate on it and bringing the legislation forward. As far as I know, the Bill in question has not yet been drafted. We need to know when it will be drafted. I ask the Leader to make inquiries in the Department of Health about when we will see that legislation because it is essential that those seeking to access services will be protected from harassment and intimidation when they do so.

I express my satisfaction on seeing the first conviction reported today under the Swedish or Nordic model. My dear friend and colleague, Senator Norris, will not agree with me.