Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tharla ócáid stairiúil in Éirinn 99 mbliana ó shin Dé Domhnaigh seo chugainn. Tháinig an Chéad Dáil le chéile i dTeach an Ardmhéara tar éis an olltoghchán agus d’athraigh na heachtraí seo ár dtír agus ár stair. The 1918 general election and meeting of the First Dáil on 21 January 1919 transformed this island and changed the course of our history. It was a transformative time in terms of universal suffrage. The Representation of the People Act 1918 caused the electorate to almost triple. It also saw our first female representative elected, namely, Countess Markievicz.

I remind Members that when, in 1998, all the people voted by a majority - and by majorities North and South - in favour of the Good Friday Agreement, it was the first occasion since the historic 1918 election that the people of this island had voted on the same day on the same issue of their constitutional status.

In May 2017, the Declaration of Independence Day Bill, which I drafted, was supported through Second Stage in the Seanad by Members from all sides. We are awaiting Committee and Remaining Stages. Senator Horkan stated during that debate that time is of the essence if we are to have the legislation through the Oireachtas before the centenary of the meeting of the First Dáil and the Declaration of Independence on 21 January 1919.

I ask the Leader to work to see that the legislation is back in the Seanad as quickly as possible in order that we can formally recognise these truly historic events.