Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of my party, I warmly congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Creighton, on her marriage to a colleague from Cork, Senator Bradford. The Minister of State has displayed discerning acumen and taste in terms of moving south to choose a valued partner.

Judging from replies given on Leaders' Questions, I suspect it might be some time before we deal with the issue relating to the Seanad. However, we will contemplate that matter in the context of the constitutional convention.

On the programme for Government - which contains a commitment regarding the abolition of the Seanad - when the Taoiseach served as leader of the Opposition one of his favourite themes was a call for the Irish diaspora to be represented in the list of Taoiseach's nominees to the Upper House. In the context of the future of the Seanad, this is a call with which I strongly agree. Having established the Global Irish Network in the aftermath of the Farmleigh summit, I am of the view that one of our greatest competitive advantages is our diaspora. With increased global connectivity-----

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