It is now 19 days since the horrific massacre in New Zealand. I praise the manner in which the Prime Minister of that country, Ms Jacinda Ardern, handled the aftermath of the Christchurch mass shooting. I know that other Senators have spoken about this recently but events could easily have been mismanaged by someone with a lot less tact or compassion. Given that my sister lives in New Zealand, I am glad that the Prime Minister managed the crisis so gracefully and instigated change so swiftly. She changed the gun laws in that country within six days of the atrocity. We have a lot to learn from that. I ask that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges would consider inviting Ms Ardern to address the Houses of the Oireachtas because we have a lot to learn from her.

I wish to make brief mention of the coastguard service. Last year my party colleague Deputy Robert Troy introduced a Bill which would establish an Irish coastguard authority and designate said body as the principal response agency to engage in the management and co-ordination of responses to major emergency events within the State. The Bill would create a statutory Irish coastguard authority, and in doing so, acknowledge the stellar work the coastguard already does and ensure that it would continue to be able to do so. Since the introduction of that Bill, the coastguard has banned volunteers from using blue lights and sirens on vehicles while travelling to incidents. Clearly this situation needs to be rectified and proper training for volunteers provided. Staff and volunteers were informed that drivers are no longer permitted to use blue lights and sirens while driving on public roads but can use them when parked, which seems ludicrous. This undermines the valuable role of the coastguard. A second-rate emergency response service is not in the public interest. A plan must be put in place immediately to roll out emergency driver training for coastguard volunteers to restore their full use of emergency lights and sirens. Will the Leader consider organising a debate in the House on this issue and on the emergency services more generally?

I congratulate the Government representatives in this and the Lower House on supporting the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017 last week. There was much contention surrounding the legislation, much discussion and a lot of concern among those stakeholders directly affected. Their concerns and fears are ones for which I have both understanding and great sympathy. Their fears for the future of their businesses, the viability of the industry and the welfare of fishermen and their families are genuine and real. However, the Bill is not about an added threat. It is about fairness and, most of all, about reciprocal arrangements. It is about ensuring an environment that is conducive to a shared future for the northern and southern fishing fleets.

I had a conversation on Monday morning last with Mr. Alan McCulla, the CEO of Sea Source in Kilkeel. Sea Source is a fishermen's co-operative and is a member of the Anglo North Irish Fish Producers Organisation, ANIFPO. While Mr. McCulla welcomed the progression of the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, he made a number of points which deserve mention in this House. He first made the point that he was disappointed that the trigger for action was the impounding of two Northern Irish vessels in Dundalk Bay. He said that it was a pity that it took this highly visible demonstration to mobilise action. He spoke to me from his office at the harbour in Kilkeel where he could see a significant number of Irish-registered fishing vessels. Those vessels presented no threat to or issue for him. He expressed concern about comments made last week that Northern Ireland vessels were sailing under flags of convenience. He said that there is an argument to be made that, in some quarters, this was a question of people in glass houses throwing stones. Mr. McCulla reassured me that any notion of an armada of fishing vessels heading into Irish waters was ridiculous. The suggestion that these vessels would detrimentally impact the industry, environment, ecology or economy in any way was unfounded and the contrary was the case. Mr. McCulla made the point that the northern and southern fishing industries needed to work better together. He argued that a stronger working relationship would support and safeguard the entire fleet, wherever that may be on the island. He spoke about ensuring a sustainable, profitable and viable industry for all. Even though the incident in Dundalk Bay appeared to have political undertones, it was dealt with swiftly and the subsequent actions by the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Government must be commended.

Mr. McCulla felt strongly that in light of the current debate, it would be useful to propose that the Government should initiate a joint discussion forum to further these relationships, build bridges and ensure that we have a strong, resilient, all-island industry, ultimately avoiding a similar contentious incident happening in future.