Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

As Leader of the 24th Seanad I am honoured to welcome back Dr. Robinson and I am pleased that she is here as a result of our invitation. As one of the world's leading human rights advocates she is a most welcome guest here today. The Seanad Public Petitions Committee has chosen the human rights of older people in Ireland as the focus of our work this term. Later today for the first time representatives of older people's advocacy groups will address the committee in the Chamber and next Tuesday experts on issues affecting older people in our society will have the opportunity to address the House. It has been said on several occasions since last May that the 24th Seanad may be the last one but we intend to make it the best one.

As Uachtarán na hÉireann and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Dr. Robinson brought world attention to human rights challenges and called for a greater commitment to and action on human rights to make human rights a reality for all. The presidency of an tIar-Uachtarán Mary Robinson was special in many ways. She will be forever associated with the faithful light in the window of Arás an Uachtaráin which, sadly, has renewed resonance now that we are witnessing emigration again on a scale not seen for many years.

The people are proud of the pioneering role she played as President of Ireland during her term of office. She was a President for the people, meeting them in their communities to see at first hand the work of local groups. She initiated the practice of inviting groups from every area of national life, North and South, to Arás an Uachtaráin to confirm to them that their work was important to the nation as a whole. Naturally, she was an inspiration to the people, especially women, to come centre stage to speak of their aspirations and concerns and to show their achievements and success. She evoked a strong empathy with the Irish Diaspora giving a new focus to their isolation and their wish to be re-included in the national awareness. She championed the causes of those who strove to overcome barriers of disability, disadvantage, marginalisation to take their rightful place in education and employment.

On assuming office as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in 1997, she continued to build on her remarkable achievements as Uachtarán na hÉireann on the international stage as one of Ireland's greatest ambassadors and visionaries. Throughout her five years of service as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights she achieved remarkable progress in raising the profile of human rights and making them a central issue in all societies. Having travelled far and wide to promote respect for human rights, she was never afraid to take up the cause of victims of human rights abuses wherever they occurred, nor did she ever tire of lending her powerful voice to the cries of these victims which may not have been heard otherwise. She gave priority to implementing the then Secretary General's reform proposal to integrate human rights to all activities of the United Nations and she strengthened human rights monitoring in conflict areas.

Her relentless commitment in championing the cause of human rights was exemplified following the completion of her term as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September 2002 by the foundation of Realizing Rights - The Ethical Globalization Initiative based at Columbia University in New York. This organisation fostered ethical trade and decent work and promoted the right to health and humane migration policies and encouraged women's participation and leadership in corporate responsibility. In the course of her significant work with the Realizing Rights initiative, she became conscious of the issue of climate change and its impact especially on developing countries.

To this end she established the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice to progress further her momentous work to date by endeavouring to address inequalities in climate change. The fact that she chose to establish the foundation in Ireland to carry on its significant work shows her deep-rooted commitment to this country and to advancing the reputation of Ireland internationally as a society that cares deeply about the plight of those who live in the poorest countries in the world. The creation of an alliance of innovation between the Mary Robinson Foundation, Trinity College and University College Dublin is noteworthy. With the support of the foundation, Trinity College and UCD are now developing masters courses in development practice which have attracted a good deal of interest from other universities throughout the world. I have no doubt these initiatives will raise the profile of these universities internationally.

I note Dr. Robinson's lifetime commitment to human rights was recognised by the award to her of the US presidential medal of freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. She has shown us time and again that with courage, imagination and integrity, everything is possible.

We are grateful that she accepted my invitation to address the House today and to share with us her vision for the future of Ireland. I believe strongly that her commitment to public service and positive communication are of particular relevance to this House as we endeavour to enhance the value and relevance of the Seanad for the benefit of the public.

As Leader of the Upper House, I am committed to improving the way in which the Seanad does its business. To this end, as Dr. Robinson remarked, the Seanad Public Petitions Committee has been created. It represents a strong addition to the overall committee system and brings the Seanad closer to the citizen by allowing community representatives to appear before the House. The Seanad Public Consultation Committee has chosen human rights for older people in Ireland as the focus of its work for this term. Later this afternoon and for the first time representatives of older people's advocacy groups will address the committee in the Chamber and, next Tuesday, experts on issues affecting older people in our society will have the opportunity to address the House. I hope that by highlighting these issues and by giving the opportunity to representatives of older people to address Members we will compliment in some way the significant contribution of Dr. Robinson to human rights. The submissions received from older people's advocacy groups in advance of today's address were especially informative and contain some practical suggestions for consideration, such as the enactment of legislation to regulate the standard of home care services for older people and the provision of inspection for providers of home care services. The advocacy groups were especially concerned about the introduction of a fuel strategy scheme and the extension of the Citizens Information Board advocacy services which provide advocacy services to older people.

I congratulate Dr. Robinson on her trip to the Horn of Africa. I believe Ireland can be a valuable bridge to the poorest countries in the world. We have come from poverty and famine ourselves and we have a good record in development aid and, as such, we are uniquely placed to be a voice for the vulnerable and the marginalised throughout the world, just as Dr. Robinson has been for many years. We are especially pleased to have Dr. Robinson here and we wish her many more years of success.