Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will use my few minutes today to welcome an Seanadóir Malachai O'Hara. What a proud day it is for him. On this special day, I welcome his family to this very important Chamber, Seanad Éireann, a place of many voices. As part of our general deliberations on the celebration of the Seanad, our previous Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, titled a section "Northern Voices". We had a very healthy and great debate. It is great to have not only a Northern voice, but someone with an accent as beautiful as the Senator's as that voice. When I came up the stairs this morning, I heard it and knew we were definitely amongst Northerners. The Senator is very welcome.

An Seanadóir O'Hara takes a seat at a very crucial time for this Seanad but also in his own political career. He was elected to the Seanad unopposed and I see that not as a negative, but as a plus, because it says a lot about him as a candidate and about his credentials. It speaks of, to and about him, his track record of advocacy, his wide engagement with environmental and social justice issues and his commitment to reconciliation, prosperity, tolerance and inclusion across political, social and cultural divides. That is a wonderful record. Anyone coming from the North who did not have that sort of a record seeking election to this House in opposition to an Seanadóir O'Hara would be facing very strong credentials. He was widely welcomed. I commend the Green Party on selecting him. I can see why it did so. I believe it was the Irish Post that quoted the Senator on his election to Seanad Éireann. To paraphrase, it was attributed to him that he said he would ensure that all voices from Northern Ireland are amplified in Seanad Éireann. I commend him on taking on that task, which will come with challenges.

It is, of course, important that Northern Irish voices are heard in Seanad Éireann. We know that the Taoiseach has 11 nominees. On the last occasion, in exercising his prerogative, the then Taoiseach did not choose to nominate any Independent voices or Northern voices to the Seanad. That was his choice and his prerogative and I respect that. As I stand here today, I am mindful of the great work and contribution of the former Independent Senator, Ian Marshall. He was very active in respect of Queen's University, agriculture, peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, the island of Ireland and European affairs. We do not have him any more. Perhaps we will have other people. I will use this opportunity, in welcoming the Senator to the House, to make the case for the future Taoiseach, whoever he or she might be, to use that prerogative under the Constitution of Ireland to provide for the appointment of different voices, different perspectives and Northern voices. I commend the Senator on his work. On behalf of the Seanad Independent Group, I will say that we look forward to collaborating and engaging meaningfully with him. It is always important. In the Seanad, the former Labour Senator, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, said that the Opposition is not the enemy of the Government and that we have a function and role to be constructive and to work with it. I wish Malachai and his family well. I wish him every success and every happiness in the job in hand. Best of luck.