Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassador of Lithuania to the Chamber. Today commemorates the declaration of independence, which was signed in 1918 and re-established the state of Lithuania after nearly 150 years of Tsarist Russian occupation. Another Lithuanian national day will be celebrated on 11 March and it marks the country's independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Ireland never recognised the annexation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union.

The Lithuanian community is the second largest in this State. The Lithuanian Association in Ireland has been active since 1999. Along with more than 30 other organisations, clubs and sporting clubs, it organises gatherings, concerts and other events in Dublin, Cork, Monaghan, Portlaoise, Tullamore and other locations around Ireland. There are 15 Lithuanian weekend schools all over the country, and Lithuanian is taught in some Irish schools. This year, we celebrate more than 30 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Lithuania. The two countries have a close and friendly relationship. The Lithuanian Embassy opened in Ireland in 2003, and the ambassador, H.E. Marijus Gudynas, arrived here in 2020.

Last year, 27 members of the newly-elected Lithuanian Parliament, about 20% of the total membership, formed the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with Ireland. Members of the friendship group are here today, led by Deputy Cormac Devlin. We look forward to deepening the interparliamentary relationship with Lithuania. I wish the ambassador, all our friends in Lithuania and all Lithuanians, including those living in Ireland, and the Irish people living in Lithuania a very happy and safe Independence Day. Su laisvës diena, Lietuva. I thank the ambassador for being here today.

I ask the Acting Leader to outline the Order of Business on this Lithuanian Independence Day.