Black Rock commemoration
Senator Ó Donnghaile described the Irish Commemorative Stone in Quebec and its link to the Great Famine and Irish emigrant remembrance. Senator Doherty then asked for a statement, praised the community's care for the memorial, and briefly complimented Senator Boylan's campaign work.
Beidh mé gasta. Níl agam ach ábhar amháin inniu. The Irish Commemorative Stone, also known as the Black Rock, is a monument in Pointe-Saint-Charles in Quebec. It marks the mass grave of 6,000 Irish emigrants who fled an Gorta Mór and died of typhoid and other diseases. The stone was erected on 1 December 1859 and it was the first monument in North America to the victims of the great hunger. Each year, the community in Montreal remembers those who died and the aid offered to those who were fleeing hunger in Ireland, with a march to the Black Rock. The rock is currently surrounded by roads infrastructure and an industrial estate. However, a group has been established to develop the site as a fitting public monument to the Irish in Montreal, Quebec and all of Canada. The group has secured a large parcel of land around the rock and a commitment to move the roads away from the monument and provide a space for reflection and proper, fitting commemoration. I commend the work of the group and I know colleagues across the House will join me in doing so. While considerable work has been done to develop the plans and secure the site and infrastructure works, there is much more to do.
The Leader will know I have been asking for some time for statements from the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora. What I have cited is just one fine example of the kind of great work our diaspora and communities overseas are doing. We should take the opportunity to engage with the Minister of State to hear what support he can offer on this very worthwhile project and many others among our diaspora community.
Comment on this
I have made such a request a number of times and I obviously did not get a response. Maybe it is because the Minister of State is out with the diaspora, which is probably a good thing, but I will certainly request a statement. I congratulate the community that cherishes the Irish who emigrated to Canada. I did not know about this until I visited Montreal a couple of years ago. The community really does care. It is lovely to see, even from afar, that continued commitment.
I know Senator Boylan has campaigned on greenwashing for many years. It was lovely that she got the credit, not for the decision that was made, but for her campaign in the past couple of years. It is really good to see. What is really scary to see in today's world, and not just in Ireland, is the amount of information people believe to be true that is completely not true. Nobody seems to be responsible for telling us such information is not true in a co-ordinated way. I congratulate the Senator. I am delighted the ASAI has found in favour of customers, as opposed to our being duped, as we have been for many years.
Senator Conway raised the very frightening campaign, which has been started by a young lady who does the Newstalk programme at lunchtime, but it came to a head yesterday with the presentation by some of our nurses detailing exactly the kind of conditions under which they have been working and the lack of response from the HSA for the past number of years.
It definitely warrants a debate. We are trying to find time in the schedule next week to take the healthcare report as quickly as possible, but this is probably equally urgent. We will try to get it in as quickly as we can.
I thank Senator Boyhan for correcting the record. I do not think anyone would have doubted that there was anything but sincerity in his initial contribution.
There are very few people outside the Houses who care about the Electoral Commission. I know it is probably very nerdy, but I am pleased to see that it is finally up and running. Hopefully, we will get the recommendations from it sooner rather than later.
I cannot accept Senator Craughwell's amendment to the Order of Business but not because I do not agree with his request. I am informed that the Minister is in the west of Ireland today. I have requested a written response from him. First, he is not aware of the issue the Senator raised, so he is going to contact the Department immediately to get answers to the questions, particularly on the grounding of the flight in Derry, but, more importantly, about the unlicensed holders and the accounts raised by the Senator. I will get the written response for him if not today then hopefully by tomorrow. If I do not, I ask the Senator to raise it as a Commencement matter on Tuesday in order that we can get the Minister in, especially as the schedule for Tuesday has already been agreed and Orla Murray cannot change it at the moment. That would be the best way to do it. The Senator raised some very concerning issues this morning.