Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the day that is in it, I wish An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, the very best. It is fair to say I am the only Fianna Fáil Senator in the Chamber who the Taoiseach put a number one beside my name in a recent by-election. I do not think anyone else got a number one from Leo and I am pretty sure I did, so I can go down in history for that at least. I thank him for his support on that occasion and equally wish him the very best. He has given a lot of service to the Houses and the people, as a member of Fingal County Council initially, way back in 2005, later on in the Dáil in many Departments, including health, transport and enterprise, and as Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

I know the Cathaoirleach has travelled twice to the US recently. I was there on my own steam in recent days. I attended a parade where I was guest of honour in West Orange, New Jersey. I was the guest of an order of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, and I am wearing their tie today. We have Irish diaspora all over the world, with close linkages and generations further back, especially from the Leader's county. I know in the case of my own grandfather, who was the youngest of ten and who came to Dublin from Mayo, that eight of his siblings went to America.

We should acknowledge the work the Irish diaspora does on behalf of Ireland and of their own communities right around the world,l particularly in the US and Britain but also right across the world in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and South America. We should acknowledge the work done by them on behalf of Ireland Inc. but also on behalf of those who left Ireland, some of whom were very successful and others who were less successful. There are community groups looking after the Irish and looking out for the Irish and for Ireland. We should see if there is a mechanism as to how we can honour these people in all that they are doing. I know we do that by going abroad and the global greening and so on, but I do not think we should ever underestimate the power of the Irish brand. It does not happen by accident. It is all these clubs and organisations all over the world promoting Ireland in a positive way and I thank them for that.