Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments made by Senator Leyden in respect of the dramatic developments in the relationship between Cuba and the United States. We have been made aware that Pope Francis, who celebrated his 78th birthday yesterday, played a crucial role in brokering the landmark deal between the United States and Cuba. As more details emerge about the watershed normalising of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we are learning more about the instrumental role the Pope played in bringing American and Cuban leaders together. Given that relations between the US and Cuba were frozen for 50 years, what happened yesterday represents a paradigm shift. The Pope wrote a letter to President Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba during the summer in which he urged the two to mend the relationship between their countries.

President Obama really seems to have rediscovered his, to use a crude word, mojo particularly in view of what was announced yesterday and the compassion he has shown towards undocumented Irish and others in the United States. The Pope, whose mantra is "mercy and compassion", is 78 years of age and he has provided extraordinary leadership and encouraged people to be more tolerant, understanding and forgiving. Despite the negative reaction of some Cuban exiles in Florida, I am of the view that this process is going to move forward. President Obama is on a mission and he intends to open a US embassy in Cuba. In addition, 50 American prisoners in Cuba are to be released. People have visited the Houses of the Oireachtas to request our help in having the Cuban five - who were convicted of being involved in espionage in the United States over 20 years ago - freed. President Obama has indicated that he intends to release these individuals. This is a wonderfully inspiring time for everyone. Showing leadership is what it is all about - it is not about engaging in populist politics.