H. E. Maura Healey:

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to be here today.It is indeed such an honour. I am very grateful to my dear friend, Ambassador Claire Cronin, who has shown the very best of what America is about and should always be about.

As Senators probably noticed, I was emotional when I was delivering my remarks. That emotion comes from the feeling I have towards my ancestors and this wonderful country. While I reflect on the past and the history, and I am mindful of the ties that bind, I am also mindful of our future. I appreciate so much what the Senators had to say, including on the continued work in advocacy that we need around protecting members of the LGBTQ population. I wish happy Pride to all here. I am told we have our work cut out for us in Boston. I hear we have a lot more to do to even come close to comparing with Dublin Pride. We will work on that.

The work on disability is so significant and it is part of what I believe deeply in, as Governor and a leader. We have to do work to advance women's rights, particularly in this time when, unfortunately, we see there are those looking to take us backwards. There is the work we have to do around climate, which is both a moral and an economic imperative. One of the things we are embracing in our state of Massachusetts is climate technology and the opportunity to really grow in this space.

I am also struck by what I have seen and heard in this Chamber and what I have seen over the last few days, namely, incredible entrepreneurship, innovation and development of all sorts of tech sectors. When I think about technology and some of the roundtables I have had the benefit of participating in over the past few days, it fills me and my team with tremendous optimism about the future and a desire to embrace an opportunity for Massachusetts to work more closely with Irish employers and companies and with our research and academic institutions. There is so much that is possible.

From a person whose ancestors could probably never have imagined this day, know that I leave here with hopes of returning and, in the meantime, hopes of finding ways to foster the kinds of things we need to foster. Economic success and opportunity are not mutually exclusive of our commitment to human rights or the advancement of social justice. Those of us in the world who are to succeed in the time we are in - this inflection point in world history - are those who recognise that these can be synergistic, that they can and must happen together and that we will all be better for it. I am truly struck by the ways in which the Irish people have continued to open their doors, literally and figuratively, to the world. I know the Ireland I see is a better place for it. I know the world and others who find ways to emulate what the Irish people and Ireland have done will be better for it. Again, thank you for this incredible honour. It is a privilege to be among all of you.