Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

What a special day. A Oirircis, Ursula von der Leyen, Uachtarán ar an gCoimisiún Eorpach, thar ceann Chomhaltaí an dá Theach agus thar mo cheann féin, cuirim fáilte romhat chuig an gcomhshuí seo de Thithe an Oireachtais.

Your Excellency, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on behalf of the Members of both Houses and on my own behalf I wish to welcome you to this historical joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Frau Präsidentin von der Leyen, hundert tausend mal, bitte Ich Sie im irischen Parlament, herzlich willkommen.

President von der Leyen, you are very welcome to the Irish Parliament. We welcome you also as the first woman President of the Commission, an inspiration to women politicians here in Ireland, in Europe and indeed across the world. Is mór againn tú a bheith linn i seomra a bhfuil sé de shásamh dúinn le 100 bliain anuas a bheith ann. Bhí sé de stuaim ag Mícheál Ó Coileáin, tírghráthóir, úsáid an tseomra seo a lorg ó Chumann Ríoga Átha Cliath sa bhliain 1922 – am a raibh an Cogadh Cathartha ar siúl in Éirinn - agus táimid anseo ó shin; ceann den líon beag daonlathas parlaiminteach a cruthaíodh le linn ré sin na réabhlóide agus a mhaireann fós agus atá ag fónamh dá dhaoine.

We have the honour, Madame President, of receiving you in a Chamber which we have had the pleasure of occupying for the past 100 years. Michael Collins, an Irish patriot, had the foresight to seek the temporary use of this Chamber from the Royal Dublin Society in 1922 - a time of Civil War in Ireland - and we have been here since; one of the very few parliamentary democracies created during an era of revolution which still survives and is serving its people.

Madame President, you come to speak to us at an auspicious time. We are on the cusp of celebrating 50 years in the European Union. Ireland signed the Treaty of Accession to the join the European Economic Community in 1972 and joined the Community on 1 January 1973. In the last 50 years we, as a people, have seen the transformative effects of that membership in terms of the transition from an agrarian economy to a modern economic model, strong economic growth, free-flowing inward investment, vast and often welcome changes in our social and civil fabric, and freedom of travel, to name but a few of the beneficial effects we have witnessed. And we are now, a small island on the west coast of Europe, at the heart of a market of half a billion citizens living peacefully.

Ní neart go cur le chéile, deirimid. There is no strength without unity. We are stronger together. And while we value peace in the Union, you also address us in a time of war in the Ukraine and of deep economic uncertainty - both circumstances created by the unjustified and unprovoked attack on a member of the European family. The Members of these Houses have had the pleasure of hearing from the outstanding and impressive President Zelenskyy. As a member of the European Union we stand in solidarity with him and with the Ukrainian people, and as a country we will remain steadfast in our support for the Ukrainian people in the time ahead.

I want to acknowledge the presence of two important people here. Our own Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, who needs no introduction. I suppose you are not our Commissioner now but you are the Commissioner from Ireland. You are very welcome. In the Public Gallery, overlooking her Sinn Féin team, is the designated First Minister for the Northern Ireland Assembly, and we all hope that assembly assembles and allows the important work of government in the North of Ireland to commence. Michelle O'Neill, you are heartily welcome, together with your team.

President von der Leyen, the floor is yours.