Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Order of Business is No. 1,address by the Honourable John Howard MP, Prime Minister of Australia. Private Members' business will be No. 54, motion re drug abuse.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are no proposals to put to the House. In accordance with an order of the House of Thursday last, 18 May 2006, the sitting will be suspended until 5.15 p.m.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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A Phríomh-Aire, is mór an onóir dom céad míle fáilte — a hundred thousand welcomes — a chur romhat thar mo cheann féin agus thar ceann Chomhaltaí Dháil Éireann.

Prime Minister, it is a great honour for us, the elected representatives of Dáil Éireann, to have you here today in this House. Since the foundation of the State over 80 years ago, this is the third occasion on which a Prime Minister of Australia has addressed us. A very strong part of our modern relationship is the close friendship between our two parliaments. It was my pleasure to lead an all-party delegation to Australia last year at the invitation of your good friend and former Speaker, Neil Andrew. I was delighted to repay some of that hospitality last year when I welcomed your foreign affairs committee, led by your party colleague, Senator Alan Ferguson.

The first Australian Prime Minister to address this House was Bob Hawke in 1987. It is interesting to read his address at the time. He referred to serious world problems of the time such as the Cold War and apartheid in South Africa. It should encourage us in looking for solutions to the serious issues of today to find that what looked like intractable problems in 1987 were no longer with us a few years later. The changes in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 have been phenomenal and we appreciate Australia's support. As the representative of a Border constituency, I acknowledge the contribution of the government and people of Australia to the International Fund for Ireland which has greatly helped reconciliation and social regeneration in Border counties. I hope the Prime Minister will continue to maintain his observer status for the lifetime of the fund. On the Prime Minister's first official visit to this country in October 1977 as Minister for Special Trade Negotiations, total trade between Ireland and Australia amounted to £21.4 million. It now amounts to almost €900 million, a marvellous achievement by any standard.

Despite the fact that our two countries are on opposite sides of the world, our special relationship has been positively influenced by a shared history and strong political and cultural links. The contemporary links between us are equally remarkable. Our people-to-people contacts continue to go from strength to strength. In 2005 some 150,000 Australians visited Ireland, while 60,000 Irish people visited Australia. The working holiday visa programme has been a huge success. Since its introduction in 1985, an average of 10,000 young Irish men and women, mostly graduates, have spent up to one year in Australia, while 2,000 young Australians have visited Ireland.

Irish people at home recognise the important contribution made by the Irish abroad to many countries, including Australia, through the centuries. This recognition is reflected in the Constitution, Article 2 of which was changed in 1998 as a result of the Good Friday Agreement to state: "The Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage".

Today, many Irish people travel to Australia by choice but that was not always the case. In the 19th century many found themselves in Australia after being transported there for political and minor criminal offences. I want to describe one of these Irish people, Charles Gavin Duffy. A typical rebel, he was born in County Monaghan which forms part of my constituency. His remarkable life epitomises the entry of many of his generation into political life in Australia. Before going to Australia, he was editor of the Nation newspaper and in 1852 was elected MP for New Ross, County Wexford. He was tried five times for treason before being deported to Australia in 1855 where he was elected a Member of the Victoria Legislature. He became Minister and then Prime Minister of Victoria. When he thought he could rise no higher, he was appointed Speaker. Members will understand the natural progression involved. His remarkable reason for leaving was that he had found the monotony of the Chair and the tone of the legislative assembly to be uncongenial. I trust the Prime Minister will not find his time with us monotonous or uncongenial.

I now have the honour of calling on the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Mr. John Howard, MP, to address Dáil Éireann.