Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt it is a tough job. St. Patrick's Day is very important and it is building up to being an extremely important day from a sales and marketing point of view for this country, which is why it is important that we send our wishes from the Seanad. I hope the Leader will add to this when he speaks. The new revitalised Seanad Éireann, having survived its abolition by the Taoiseach last year, sends its best wishes to the diaspora throughout the world and wishes it well. I hope that in time people who are abroad will be appointed by the Taoiseach to sit in this House to represent those abroad who have been forced out of this country through emigration.

It is also very disappointing that the United States of America has not appointed an ambassador as yet.