Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before calling on the Leader of the Fianna Fáil group to respond to the Order of Business I welcome the ambassador from Portugal to the House today. The Portuguese National Day is a moment when the country celebrates one of its heroes who is not a warrior as the ambassador pointed out, but a poet. We have had some famous poets in our Seanad, notably W. B. Yeats. The poet is Luís de Camões and the anniversary of his death in 1580 is the grounds for the celebration of the national day of Portugal. His epic poem, which is a bit like Homer's Ilead, recounts the voyage and journey of the discovery by Portuguese sailors in the 15th and 16th centuries. It unites all the people of Portugal around the world, its many citizens who live outside Portugal and many who live here in Ireland. Of course as we are both located on the edge of Europe our countries have a common and shared heritage in terms of the Atlantic Ocean and the wider world as two seafaring nations.

This year is the 360th anniversary of a Kerryman who played an important role in the story of Ireland and of Portugal, Daniel O'Daly, a Dominican friar originally from Kilsarkan, founded Corpo Santo seminary and a Dominican college for students in the centre of Lisbon in 1630.Subsequently, he went on to found an Irish Dominican convent in Lisbon as well. The nuns in the institution only departed in 2016 and it still operates as a school under the auspices of the Irish Dominicans.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Portugal, in respect of Ireland having a presence in Lisbon. I am delighted to say we have an Oireachtas friendship group and Senator Gavan is the convenor, along with Senators O'Donovan, Conway, Craughwell and Byrne. I extend a particular welcome to our new Portuguese ambassador, who has not yet presented his credentials on behalf of his country and his people. Ambassador Bernardo Lucena is very welcome and we extend our best wishes to him and to all the people of Portugal on their national day. I thank the ambassador for being with us today.