Joe O'Reilly defends secrecy of the ballot and urges action
Joe O'Reilly thanked parliamentary staff and ushers, defended the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot, and urged voters to engage in upcoming elections. He asked the leader to press the caretaker government - the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste - and department officials to keep the Middle East conflict centre stage and to seek an end to the genocide and a settlement.
He expressed gratitude to Martin, Bridget and all House staff for their professionalism, courtesy and helpfulness, and thanked the ushers for their assistance. He said a colleague, Senator Mary Seary Carney, had asked him to convey her appreciation to the staff as well.
He stressed that Ireland has an unblemished, good working democracy and that "the secrecy of the ballot, the sanctity of the ballot in this country is sacrosanct." He described that democratic integrity as a great jewel and a pearl that the public should be proud of.
He appealed to the public, if the remarks receive local or national coverage, to use their franchise in the coming weeks, to vote and to engage with the issues. He urged people to be proud of and to participate in the democratic process.
He asked the leader to impress on the caretaker government - the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste - and permanent department officials to keep the Middle East conflict in focus. Noting a change of administration in America, he said Ireland is a small voice on the world stage but an important one morally and urged action to try to end the genocide and bring peace and a settlement.
He thanked Senator Gavin and others for their contributions and concluded by reiterating the need to pursue an end to the appalling violence and to keep the issue central to government attention.
Opening thanks
He expressed gratitude to Martin, Bridget and all House staff for their professionalism, courtesy and helpfulness, and thanked the ushers for their assistance. He said a colleague, Senator Mary Seary Carney, had asked him to convey her appreciation to the staff as well.
Defence of democracy
He stressed that Ireland has an unblemished, good working democracy and that "the secrecy of the ballot, the sanctity of the ballot in this country is sacrosanct." He described that democratic integrity as a great jewel and a pearl that the public should be proud of.
Appeal to voters
He appealed to the public, if the remarks receive local or national coverage, to use their franchise in the coming weeks, to vote and to engage with the issues. He urged people to be proud of and to participate in the democratic process.
Call on the caretaker government
He asked the leader to impress on the caretaker government - the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste - and permanent department officials to keep the Middle East conflict in focus. Noting a change of administration in America, he said Ireland is a small voice on the world stage but an important one morally and urged action to try to end the genocide and bring peace and a settlement.
Closing remarks
He thanked Senator Gavin and others for their contributions and concluded by reiterating the need to pursue an end to the appalling violence and to keep the issue central to government attention.
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Transcript
At the outset, might I express my gratitude to Martin, Bridget, to all the staff, all of them for the great work they do and their graciousness and courtesy at all times. Could I similarly thank the ushers of the House for how helpful they are to us as we do our work. I had the privilege of working with the staff of the House here closely when I was last and I can testify from that to their absolute professionalism and helpfulness. I want to say that we should, in this country, be very conscious that we have an unblemished democracy, that we have a democracy where the secrecy of the ballot is sacrosanct. By the way, just before I move, my colleague Senator Mary Seary Carney had wanted to express horse gratitude to the staff of the House and just missed doing it and asked me to convey horse as well. But to go back to my point, the secrecy of the ballot, the sanctity of the ballot in this country is sacrosanct. We have a very good democracy, a good working democracy. And for that reason, it's a great jewel, it's a great pearl. And I think some of the things delineated by Senator Gavin and indeed later emphasise that. So I would appeal through this House, insofar as this gets coverage locally or nationally, to people to use that franchise in the coming few weeks to actually vote, to engage with the issues and to vote. We should be proud to have a democracy that does that. Could I lastly say, to ask the leader to impress, our leader to impress on the caretaker government that will be the Taoiseach and Tarnashter, to keep the conflict in the Middle East centre stage, and the department officials in their respective departments, the permanent government, to keep this in focus, as there's a change of administration in America, to see what can we do to end the genocide, to bring peace, to get a settlement. We're a small vice in a worldwide stage, but we're an important vice, morally and otherwise. And it behoves us, in the midst of what's appalling, what's vile, what's completely alien to the human condition, that the murder that is going on there, to get it ended by any means, or at least, at a minimum, to be a vice for it's ending. Thank you, Senator. Thank you.