Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleague Senator Flynn, who mentioned everyone who works in these Houses, the many people who make what we do possible and support it, in thanking all of them. I also thank my staff, Ciara, Georgia, Robbie and Sebastian and the wonderful Saran Fogarty who recently moved on to new exciting jobs but who was a great partner in the work in the past few years. I thank my colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group. It has been extraordinary to work with Senators Black, Ruane and Flynn and see the passion, insight, brilliance and imagination they bring to their work. I learn from them all the time. I thank the wider pool of colleagues, that is all of us in the House and those who have engaged with me, against me and alongside me on issues that are important. There have been many examples of the importance of what the Seanad can do. I think back to the early days of the Seanad to the important message sent about the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPs, waiver, which was a motion that sent a clear signal on human rights from the Seanad.

Having thanked everyone, I raise one last issue. It is on the Order Paper, to which it was added in recent days. I hope to have the opportunity to address it further in the next Seanad. It is important at a time when democracy and multilateralism seem fragile. It is important we assert the importance of democracy and of widening it, the importance of rights and equality for all and of the universal application of international law, including international human rights law, to all people, without distinction. There is a people who have been neglected in that respect. They are the people of Western Sahara. My motion, as added to the Order Paper today, notes the fact that it is one of the longest-running conflicts in the world. Since 1991 the people of Western Sahara have been waiting for a promised referendum on self-determination, which is one of the core rights under the United Nations. Regrettably, it seems to be moving further away as economic exploitation continues. I note the International Court of Justice and the European courts have affirmed again that right to self-determination. I urge Ireland, as we begin to take first, though still inadequate, steps of action on the occupied Palestinian territories, to look at what actions we can take on the illegal exploitation of resources and occupation of Western Sahara, such as diplomatic engagement with the representatives of the Sahrawi people and measures to ensure we are not complicit in the exploitation of resources without compliance with international law. I wanted to signal this as these are a people who can sometimes be forgotten. They have been spoken about a little in recent weeks. I thank the Acting Chairperson for his leniency. In putting that motion forward, I hope to pursue it further.

I wish the best of luck to all those going forward and all those entering their next chapter.