Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the matter with me beforehand.
Senator Susan O'Keeffe paid an eloquent tribute to Dermot Healy and referred to his strong Sligo connections. Many Members paid tribute to him on the Order of Business on Tuesday when I referred to his poem Serenitywhich was published inThe Irish Timeson that day which presented his work at its best. We all join the Senator in sending condolences to his family and friends.
Senator Denis O'Donovan asked for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, to be invited to come to the House to discuss the relationship between the United States and Ireland. That matter was raised earlier this week and I wrote to the Tánaiste yesterday on foot of a request from Senator Paschal Mooney on the renewal of the graduate J1 visa scheme, in particular. The Senator should have received a copy of that letter today. He also referred to the need to ensure recognition for the undocumented Irish in the United States and the parallel issue of recognition for US citizens in Ireland. The Tánaiste made a commitment that this would be one of the issues he would pursue most vigorously in his last weeks in office. I know that he has been doing this and that he recently visited the United States to that end. A citizenship ceremony for persons who have gained Irish citizenship will take place in the Convention Centre tomorrow. It is one of the initiatives the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, introduced and which the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is continuing. It has been a positive development. Many people I know who have obtained citizenship at one of these ceremonies have spoken in positive terms about the experience. It is a very important development compared to the technical, informal procedure whereby people claimed Irish citizenship at sittings of the District Court which was most unsatisfactory.
Senator Cáit Keane also called for a debate on the property tax which, as I said, I have already sought. She also called for a debate on water safety. Her colleague, Senator Pat O'Neill, raised this matter on Tuesday. We all wish to send our condolences to the families of the children who drowned so tragically earlier in the week, as well as to the families of the adults who drowned. There have been some very tragic water safety-related incidents, including drownings. Senator Cáit Keane referred to the many rescues that had also taken place, including the high profile rescue of Jedward from a sandbank in Malahide.