Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh don chuairt a thug an Príomh Aire Trudeau ar an tír seo. Ba mhaith ann é agus is maith an rud é go bhfuilimid ag ceiliúradh an nascadh idir muid fhéin agus Ceanada. I welcome the visit by Prime Minister Trudeau to Ireland. We were also lucky to have a number of parliamentarians from Canada in the Houses earlier and we had a meeting with them. The links between Ireland and Canada are incredibly strong. Over 4.5 million people in Canada are of Irish descent. It was clear from the meeting this morning that there are incredible links across sporting, cultural, language, education, business and other spheres. Unfortunately, there appeared to be more focus on socks and walks in the park from the media, rather than on the substantive nature of our relationship with Canada. Organisations such as the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre are doing incredible work with the Irish in Canada, particularly those who are trying to set themselves up in new lives as well as those who are trying to return. In addition, the Ireland Canada University Foundation is creating great linkages between the universities and academics on both sides of the pond. Perhaps we could have a focused and substantive debate on relations between Ireland and Canada in the Seanad. It would be important. It is also important to acknowledge the role that Canada has played over the years in forging the Good Friday Agreement, in the peace process, supporting the Ireland funds and so forth. We might need a little more support from it in the current impasse with the talks in the North and the re-setting of the Assembly. I seek a specific debate on Irish-Canadian relations.

That leads me to suggest a debate on the Irish diaspora. There is a newly appointed Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora and there are concerns that the promises made previously, particularly regarding voting rights in presidential elections, might not be as high on the agenda of the current Taoiseach as they were for the previous Taoiseach, and they were not high enough on his agenda either. Any slippage on that issue would be a concern. A debate on the diaspora and particularly on where we stand on granting voting rights in presidential elections to the Irish abroad would be very welcome. Perhaps the Acting Leader would invite the Minister to the House to discuss it. It would be a good debate.