Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the Leader to outline the Order of Business, I welcome His Excellency the ambassador from Denmark, Lars Thuesen, to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. The ambassador is most welcome to Seanad Éireann today as we mark the national day of one of our European Union colleagues. The Seanad takes a distinct interest in legislation coming from the European Union. We thank our fellow member states for their support during the Brexit period, when their support was invaluable in ensuring the ongoing success of the Good Friday Agreement and making sure there was no return to a hard border. When I spoke to the ambassador outside, we discussed many of the links between Ireland and the Kingdom of Denmark. Of course, we joined the European Union in the same year, 1973. The other country that joined on the same day, the United Kingdom, did not remain and has left. We work together in the United Nations and have similar initiatives we are concerned about.When we were discussing the national flags of our respective countries, the ambassador reminded me that the flag of Denmark is the oldest national flag in the world, being nearly 1,200 years old, and that it came from the sky in the middle of a battle. There is nothing quite like imitation being the best form of flattery, because the flag of Denmark was copied by some of Denmark's Nordic neighbours, which shows how appropriate it is as a flag for that part of the world. I thank the ambassador for coming here and allowing us to celebrate with him in advance of his country’s national day.