Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the guests. This is a special day because we are celebrating the anniversary, as the Cathaoirleach said, of the visit of John F. Kennedy, as President of the United States of America, to Ireland. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his leadership as well and especially for hosting the breakfast this morning that we shared with many people at the celebration. It was a nice but simple opportunity to come together and listen to some inspirational speeches. I again thank the Cathaoirleach for organising all that.

If one looks at the Oireachtas archive, it will be seen that President Kennedy's speech is there in full. Indeed, I have sent it around to people here today. One of the things that was interesting in the President's speech in 1963 was that he quoted from several Irishmen who had played key roles in American history. These included James Hoban, whom we discussed earlier, who was the architect of the White House; John Barry, the father of the US navy; John Boyle O'Reilly, a noted Fenian leader, poet and journalist; and of course Thomas Francis Meagher, the leader of the Irish Brigade in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later acting governor of the Montana Territory.

One of the most moving aspects of President Kennedy's speech that day to the Oireachtas was his presentation of a flag from the 69th Regiment, the Fighting 69th, to the Irish people. I played back the old footage from the RTÉ archive before I came in here. It was very moving. At the end of his address, President Kennedy presented that flag and called for action by the Irish people. He announced that Ireland's hour had come and that our role on the global stage was to ensure peace with freedom. After that, I went up to the room where our battle flag now is. I saw it for the first time since it had been taken down for conservation. I take this opportunity to congratulate the conservator and all the people who made this possible. After all these years, it was most interesting to see on the flag's return to the Houses, having been restored in the last few days, the strong symbols into which Meagher had clearly had some input. I refer to the Irish harp, the Tricolour and the shamrock, all embedded, embodied and woven into that flag and the detail and sense of Irishness. This was all very clear and moving. I am particularly pleased that it is back here in these Houses. It is one of the most iconic and emblematic symbols we have here and I thank everyone involved in this work.

I finish by referring to what President Kennedy said in his speech. The President said our two countries have supported each other in times of trial and in times of triumph. How true those words are. I again thank the people involved in this endeavour and the Cathaoirleach in particular. I also thank the people involved in the restoration of this battle flag and I urge everyone to see it as soon as possible. It is great that we can now bring Irish citizens on tours around these Houses again and show them the gift that President Kennedy and the American people gave the Oireachtas.