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Mark Daly: A motion on the Order Paper today proposes that the Seanad should “appoint an Honorary Senator to represent the Global Irish Community Overseas”. As a result of our sad and tragic history of emigration, there are 80 million people in the Irish community overseas. Of the 40 million of them who are in the United States, some 10 million are under the age of 18. This is a huge resource.

I am glad Fine Gael and the Labour Party have been calling for some time for a representative of emigrants to be appointed to the Seanad. In 2006, they issued a joint policy document, Reaching Out: Caring for the Irish Abroad, in which they said they would appoint a Seanadóir to represent the Irish overseas. The Taoiseach was involved in negotiations when Mr. Jim Higgins proposed to step down as a Senator to take up a position as a full-time MEP. It was proposed at that time that Fianna Fáil would assist in appointing a Senator to represent the Irish overseas.

A former mayor of San José, Mr. Tom McEnery, who lectures in Stanford University, wrote an interesting article in The Irish Times recently. He said that rather than abolishing the Seanad, a Senator should be appointed to represent the Irish community overseas, in places like Silicon Valley. He suggested that such a move would bring back industry and value to this country. There are too many people to mention in this context. This can be done.

A resolution of the House, it would not impose any costs on the taxpayer. The person in question would not be paid a wage. At this time, it can only be for the good of everyone that a community of 80 million people be harnessed for the benefit of Ireland. I ask the Leader to support the motion.