Last Friday, a small group of people gathered at the London Irish Centre in Camden to mark the successful passage and coming into effect of Philomena's law. This private members’ Bill began over a year and a half ago, promoted by the UK Labour Party MP, Liam Conlon. I am glad to say that he is here in the Houses this afternoon. Some Members may get an opportunity to see him. He is over in the Dáil currently. Philomena's law was named after Philomena Lee and it stops people in Britain from losing their social welfare entitlements and other state supports if they receive a payment from the Irish Government’s mother and baby home redress scheme. I acknowledge the significant work of various Government Departments on this, and I particularly acknowledge the enormous support, encouragement and background work of our former Irish ambassador in London to make this all happen. Up 13,000 people in the UK are potentially eligible for this package of supports. It is an important initiative. I thank the Irish in London and the strong Irish community there who have collaborated with Members of our Parliament. It is fitting that Liam Conlon comes here today to meet Dáil Deputies and be around the House. Well done to the UK Labour Party MP for pursuing this and well done to Philomena Lee for her work. She was brave and courageous and did not take “No” for an answer. She kept asking the question and knocking the doors. She believed there was something bigger to expose, and she did so. She did not stop when she got her own case and set of circumstances some way sorted. Rather, she became a champion and an advocate for the Irish people in Britain. I salute her for that work.

First, I share in the condolences being offered to Ciara Mageean on her sad and untimely passing. She was an incredible athlete and advocate and someone we are all proud of. In my community, in Ballina, County Mayo, we are also mourning the loss of an incredible disability advocate and community person, Avril Greham.

Avril was the founding member of the Mayo Disabled Persons Organisation, which was officially launched during the past number of weeks. She was the beating heart of community life right across Mayo and the rest of the country. She made contributions in Leinster House to Oireachtas joint committees. She was an active member of Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA, the Ballina One Act Drama Festival, the Ballina community clean up, the Ballina autism-friendly town group and the Ballina Darkness into Light organisation.

From birth, Avril had a difficult and severe physical disability, but she turned that physical disability into an ability by using her voice, story and journey to break down barriers, break glass ceilings, fight for those with disabilities, and advocate in a constructive way for better outcomes for those with disabilities, in particular those with accessibility issues, be those physical, in the public realm or in terms of employment opportunities. She brought life, enthusiasm and positivity to all of her advocacy and volunteerism. She was always there to support all community life and events and to try to help other people. She did not use her disability in a negative way to feel like she was a victim. She used the ability she had in an inspiring way to help other people. To her mother Deirdre, brother Julian, the wider Greham family and the community who are mourning her loss, and she was a friend of mine as well, ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam. I thank her for everything she has done and left behind. She left the world and her community in a better place.