Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the First Dáil and the beginning of the War of Independence. The First Dáil met in the Round Room of the Mansion House with 27 Members present and 35 Members in jail. Those were challenging times.

These are also challenging times. We would do well to recall the founding principles of the first Dáil to give every child the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential in a free nation, regardless of the circumstances of his or her birth. We need to find our way back to these principles.

Today also marks the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech in which he advised us: "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."