Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom fíor-fháilte a chur roimh an Taoiseach go dtí Seanad Éireann ar mo shon féin agus ar son bhaill Sheanad Éireann. I welcome the Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann.

I welcome to the Public Gallery the students from Scoil Úna Naofa, Crumlin, who are here as guests of Senator Seery Kearney. They are very welcome. I also welcome Mr. Conor Myers and Mr. Conor Doherty, who are here from the British Embassy. I thank them for all their work and friendship. I extend céad míle fáilte to our honorary consul in Delaware in the United States, Mr. Brian McGlinchey. He was here earlier in the summer for the American football game. He is very welcome. I thank him for all the work he does for us in the US.

It is an honour for us to have An Taoiseach with us today. We look forward to his address and the themes outlined in his speech. Having been a Minister and Taoiseach, he is no stranger to this House. As he will be well aware, the quality of our debate and interrogation or inquisition of legislation at all Stages, particularly Committee and Report Stages, is, by any parliamentary standards across the world, high, whatever about the sartorial elegance of certain Members. We will not mention the latter. As the Taoiseach knows, many Members have varying views on Seanad reform and Seanad elections. There has been a myriad of reports and committees established. I am sure that, as part of his address today, the Taoiseach will make reference to these. A view articulated yesterday by Senator Boyhan on the Order of Business, but which is held by many of us and has been expressed to the Taoiseach and others, is that in many cases legislation could be initiated in this House, benefiting its outcome. However, that is a matter for the Government. I hope that as part of our debate today, we might be able to have a conversation about that.

Today, as we gather in this parliamentary Chamber, the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments is taking place in the convention centre, hosted by the Oireachtas. It is an opportunity for parliamentarians from Europe and the rest of the world to meet to discuss many different topics in a world that is ever-changing and evolving. All of us are in a position of privilege, elected to represent and be a voice for people. Parliamentary democracy is precious, and representative democracy around the world is facing a range of complex and interrelated challenges. We will all agree that we live in volatile times but it is our job to uphold democracy. It is our job as representatives to stand strong for our parliamentary democracy, and today we look forward to our Taoiseach's address and to engagement by all of us in this House. It now gives me great pleasure to ask An Taoiseach to address Seanad Éireann.