Martin McAleese (Independent)

I would like first to acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, and Ambassadors Chilcott and Rooney in the Chamber.

I join other speakers in warmly welcoming the grand secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Mr. Drew Nelson, to this House. I also welcome the delegation led by the grand master, Mr. Edward Stevenson, and, in particular, the county grand masters from Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim whom I have gotten to know well over the past number of years.

The words of welcome expressed by all party leaders today are words which many could never have imagined would ever be uttered, words we have waited for, more in hope than anything else, through recent history to now. I was struck by the opening remarks of the Cathaoirleach, Senator Paddy Burke, regarding his background and previous perceptions of the Orange Order. My upbringing was very different from that of the Cathaoirleach. It was a long way from rural County Mayo to what was then the industrial heartland of east Belfast. However, we had one thing in common, namely, as a child and young person I, too, had little knowledge of the Orange Order. That is not to say that I had no contact with them. Growing up in loyalist east Belfast as part of a minority Catholic family in a predominantly Protestant area, I recall from my earliest days seeing men with bowler hats, sashes and banners every marching season. My overriding memory is one of feeling threatened by that sight and of dreading the marching season every year.

That fear of the Orange Order persisted for many years. It did not begin to fade until after Mary had been elected President and we began engaging with the order as part of the realisation of the theme of her presidency of building bridges. Through personal contacts with the order, North and South - Mr. Nelson was a key contact in this regard - I gained another perspective on the Orange Order. We worked together, tentatively at first and, as our relationship developed, comfortably and to good effect, in particular in dealing with some issues concerning the lodges in the South. The Grand Secretary has already alluded to some of those issues in his address. Members of the Orange Order were invited every 12th of July for 14 years to Áras an Uachtaráin. Mary was the first and only President of Ireland to visit an Orange hall, Brakey Hall, County Cavan, close to Bailieboro, where she received a great welcome.

This exchange of is of huge historic significance. I never thought I or my children would live to see it. However, it is happening, which is a real symbol of the ongoing development of the peace process. We seem to be living through one of those iconic periods where historic events tumble one after another. A mere five years ago, who would have thought that the Queen would visit and be so well received in Ireland, that she would visit Croke Park and shake hands with Martin McGuinness, that the leader of the DUP, Mr. Peter Robinson, would attend mass for a murdered PSNI officer and would also attend this year's McKenna Cup final between Derry and Tyrone in the athletic grounds in Armagh or that a representative of the Orange Order would address Seanad Éireann? Just as the decade 1912-1922 changed the course of Irish history, bedding down estrangement, suspicion and mistrust, I hope that the decade 2012-2022 will ultimately be regarded as the transformative years during which different traditions were reconciled, bonds of friendship and trust were developed and an enduring peace was established. Generations yet to come will consider this visit part of that changing landscape. I suppose historians will pore over the transcripts of today.

The Grand Secretary was frank in his comments and rightly so. We need robust exchanges that identify rather than gloss over the real differences between our traditions. It is hoped these exchanges will enable us to recognise, accept and respect our differences and to regard that diversity as a resource to be utilised for the common good. Mr. Nelson, in his presentation, stated: "While we want to remember 1690, we do not want to live in it." None of us can afford to live in the past. Our challenge is to construct a better future. What can we do and what risks can we take together to achieve this? If one can imagine Ireland 25 years from now what would one see?

I again welcome Mr. Nelson to the Seanad. Thank you.