Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I echo what my two colleagues have said. This occasion is a form of joined-up democracy in which those elected to different fora and at different levels engage with each other, which is very important.

I welcome our two colleagues from the European Parliament to the Independent benches. Deputy Marian Harkin, a well-known community voice and a voice for the west is a Deputy and an MEP. She is a member of the Regional Development Committee of the European Parliament and is an independent voice. I am very happy to welcome her on that basis as an Independent MEP.

Mary Lou McDonald, MEP, is definitely not an Independent. She is here to make history, being the first elected Sinn Féin representative to address Seanad Éireann. We look forward to hearing her contribution. She gives me to understand her voice is less likely to be in agreement with some others in the House but that is to be welcomed. Mary Lou McDonald is a member of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.