Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

On behalf of my fellow Senators I welcome to the House Dr. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and a past Member of the House. As you are all aware, this newly elected Seanad is determined to modernise its procedures and actively engage with the civic society. To begin this process we have changed Standing Orders to allow persons and representatives of public and civic life to address Seanad Éireann. Today our guest, Dr. Mary Robinson, will address Members on the importance of the Seanad in her career as a human rights activist.

Dr. Robinson has had a very distinguished career as a politician, academic and human rights campaigner. As well as being regarded in this country as a transforming President, Dr. Robinson is also renowned at home and abroad as an extremely successful, committed and skilled human rights activist. At the age of 25, Dr. Mary Robinson became Ireland's youngest professor of law when she was appointed Reid Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law at Trinity College where she also served as a lecturer in European Community law. From 1969 to 1989, Dr. Robinson was a member of Seanad Éireann where her legal expertise and advocacy skills had a major impact on the drafting of legislation. During this time she was also committed to the promotion and protection of human rights. In 1990 she became the first woman to be elected President of Ireland, and from 1997 to 2002 she was the United Nation's High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Dr. Robinson now heads up the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice, a centre for thought leadership, education and advocacy on the struggle to secure global justice for those many victims of climate change who are usually forgotten, namely, the poor, the disempowered and the marginalised throughout the world.

It is in recognition of her success and expertise in the area of human rights that she is invited here today to address the House. We are delighted that a person of such reputation and achievement at home and abroad has agreed to speak to the Seanad under the new rules. Therefore, it is a great honour and privilege to ask Dr. Mary Robinson to address the House.