Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I join with other Senators in welcoming Senator Norris back to the House. I have no doubt he will continue to engage in matters here with renewed vigour, as evidenced earlier. I congratulate Michael D. Higgins, our President elect. I attended a function in Galway at the weekend. The election of Michael D. Higgins as President has caused great pride in Galway. He performed very well in every constituency throughout the country. I look forward to Michael D. Higgins's inauguration on Friday.

Several Senators have raised the issue of the closure of Irish embassies. I, too, look forward to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade coming to the House to discuss this matter, in particular the closure of our embassy in the Holy See, an important posting in the Villa Spada. The connections and diplomacy in this regard are important. I am glad there will be no diminution in diplomatic relations as the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will act as our ambassador in the Holy See, although, admittedly, non-resident. However, I wish it could be otherwise. We must, out of respect, hear the Minister on this issue.

Our embassy in the Holy See is the State's oldest diplomatic connection. Let us wait to hear what the Minister has to say on the matter. Another issue close to my heart in this regard is our diplomatic, the late great Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican, a Killarney man, a man from the Kingdom-----