Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also congratulate the Seanad and the Cathaoirleach on last Friday's engagement, which was referred to by both Senators Ó Donnghaile and Black. The Acting Chairperson, Senator Cassells was there, as I was myself. It was a very interesting contribution and there was a level of energy in the room from the people who were there. Not only the speeches they had prepared, which they had put a lot of work into, but also their responses to what we put to them were very interesting and engaging. It was a very worthwhile exercise.

I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Seanad and the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, who will be in the House at 12.45 p.m. I think that it is the very first time in the history of the Oireachtas that we have had the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords come to address us. I do not think we should underestimate how momentous a day this is. It is very much in the spirit of how we are trying to move forward and bring everybody with us. British-Irish relations have had a bit of a rocky patch, I think we would all acknowledge, and we are trying to move forward with the new British Government. I really hope that today is part of that.Yesterday evening, we had a good engagement with members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and of the newly convened British-Irish friendship group in the Parliament, convened by the Deputy Leader, Senator Chambers. I congratulate her on setting up that group. It is hard to believe we never had a friendship group with our closest neighbour. Maybe we took it for granted, but it is great that we have it. That we have an opportunity today to engage with the speaker of the House of Lords is also fantastic. I look forward to that contribution shortly.