Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join other Senators in very much welcoming the lifting of the strike threat by the ASTI and please God there will now be suitable conciliatory talks so the matter can be remediated satisfactorily. Equally, I join other Senators in congratulating President-elect Trump. We have nothing to fear and there is a great relationship between the two countries. I have no doubt the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, will be there with him on St. Patrick's Day, as is traditional. I appreciate very much Senator Mulherin's proposal to invite him but I presume, now that he is President-elect, that the Taoiseach will invite him to make a joint address to both Houses of Parliament here. I have no doubt he will speak about his visit to Ireland when they meet, and that could be before St. Patrick's Day. We have much to look forward to, although there are some regrets about the other candidate, with whom we commiserate. We must look forward in a positive way and we do. Events happen. Who was surprised that the pollsters got it so wrong? Look at what happened with Brexit. It is becoming a pattern, is it not? We are going forward with optimism and confidence.