Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Congressman for his time and all the work he and his party have done for this country. We really appreciate it. I am from Dublin, which is not a Border county, but I was born in 1969 and grew up with the Troubles throughout my childhood. I was lucky enough to win a green card in a lottery in the late 1980s and I had the privilege of living in the Congressman's country for eight years.

It was a huge privilege and a great opportunity. I learned and experienced an enormous wealth of things and America will always have a very fond place in my heart. The country's power and stature and the significance of what its influence can achieve should never be underestimated. My siblings subsequently won green cards in the lottery, although none of my family had every been to America when I went. I went to a YMCA and started fresh and I cannot tell Mr. Neal how great a time I had over the eight years.

One of my siblings has borne two American children, but they have chosen to come back here and I think that is a reflection of the crisis that faces America. They are dedicated Americans. They can sing the national anthem and they swear allegiance to the flag. They are very proud. We have a collective challenge on this side of the Atlantic and on the other side of it to reassert the values of democracy and the values Mr Neal has expressed, that is, unity but not uniformity as well as respect. I would like him to share with us how he thinks we can help America achieve that from this side of the Atlantic.