I join with Members who spoke about the significance of this day in terms of the liberation of the people of South Africa. We in this country can recall with pride the action of the young strikers at Dunnes Stores who, by their action, helped to create a change in attitude and policy here. They paid for it dearly economically through the loss of their jobs. We can take pride in the fact that the action of ordinary Irish people had an impact outside this island.
We should remember the many people who sacrificed their lives in South Africa, particularly noble figures like Steve Biko, who were brutally murdered by a regime of which we, as humans, are all ashamed. We should be glad that Nelson Mandela and President de Klerk have so courageously and with initiative and broad thinking managed to create a situation in which they can be tolerant of each other. The generosity of the black and coloured people in extending a hand of friendship and tolerance to the white people who, as a group, so consistently abused the human rights of their fellow South Africans, has been remarkable.
I agree with Senator Neville about the importance of a continuing debate on Northern Ireland and with everything he said about the atrocities committed by both sides over the last few days and weeks. If we want to see the kind of country we would live in if Sinn Féin/IRA had their way, we need only look north of the Border over the last few days and observe the way "justice" is meted out by these gentle persons.
Members may not realise — I just heard it on the news — that one of our colleagues from the other House, Deputy Michael Ferris, who is acting as monitor in South Africa suffered a heart attack and is in hospital. I am sure the House would like to send its best wishes for his recovery.
