Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the President of Portugal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, the Irish ambassador to Portugal, and the Portuguese ambassador to Ireland who are in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann for this state visit. I know they are looking forward to going back to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet the President of Ireland again, whom they met this morning. I am sure my colleagues will join with me in welcoming them.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Portuguese Republic. Our friendship goes back much further. A Kerryman left Kerry 360 years ago and established a Dominican seminary in Lisbon to train new generations and to keep that connection alive between Ireland and Portugal. I especially thank the Portuguese delegation, the Portuguese Members of Parliament and all the people in Portugal for their support of Ireland during the very difficult and ongoing Brexit negotiations. Our colleagues in Europe have been steadfast in their support of Ireland, which is appreciated by all the Members of both Houses and especially by the people of Ireland. We thank our guests for honouring us with their visit to our Senate during our 100th anniversary.

Having been a distinguished member for so long, the Portuguese President will know Senator Casey from Glendalough, who has one of the finest hotels in the most spectacular location.