Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Before the Leader proposes the Order of Business, I welcome the ambassador of Romania to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery along with members of the staff form the embassy here. We are marking Romania's national day. Our Leas-Chathaoirleach is also chair of the friendship group between Ireland and Romania. I welcome them here in advance of their national day. On 1 December 1918, Romania took its first steps towards statehood, had a national assembly in Alba Iulia - I think that is the city - and proclaimed the unification of the people of Romania, a defining moment on Romania's long journey to statehood. It was not easy, having to endure many years of communist oppression, but in December 1989 the courage and sacrifice of the people of Romania was seen live on our television screens in Ireland, returning Romania to the European union of nations and eventually to being a member of the European Union, along with ourselves, and working together on many issues across the world and across Europe.

We established diplomatic relations in 1990 and the latest census states there are 40,000 Romanians in Ireland, but the ambassador tells me there might be quite a few more. As ever, in a global world, people come and go in the European Union and the Romanian language is taught in some of our schools. We acknowledge Ilinca, who is not in the Chamber at the moment, who works in the Seanad office and who has given me some of the pronunciations, which I am not getting 100% right. We thank her for working here, having made the journey from Romania herself. On this, the national day and to mark the friendship between Ireland and Romania we thank the ambassador for taking the time out to mark 1 December. La muli ani, România. I think that is the pronunciation; Ilinca did her best.

Before I ask the Leader to outline the Order of Business, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach is the chair of the friendship group and to mark Romania's national day, I ask her to say a few words.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Cathaoirleach. As convenor of the group, I wish to welcome the ambassador, Georgeta and the team form the embassy and congratulate them on their national day. I know they are having their celebration next Monday and I am looking forward to that. The ambassador and his team have been very proactive in meeting people around Ireland, encouraging people to get involved in politics, not pushing any parties or whatever, but just encouraging people to participate and get involved in Irish life. That is really important. I join with the Cathaoirleach in making this day of celebration.