Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Well, there are places I could suggest.

We should examine this issue. The Minister mentioned Europe, which prompted me to ask this question. Getting on to the European roster is governed by one's presence on the Irish roster. Different member countries have different places, hence one encounters somebody from the European Parliament who heads a delegation, as was the case when I was in Cambodia. There are skills everywhere but this is an area of expertise in which we are very welcome. We could train people to be regularly available, and we should not confine it to the professions I mentioned and for which we all have such a high regard.

See this speech in context