On behalf of the committee members, I have great pleasure in welcoming the Polish parliamentary delegation here today, under the chairmanship of Mr. Adam Stanislaw Szejnfeld, to talk about economic matters in the Republic of Poland. I say to you a hundred thousand welcomes, or céad míle fáilte in our native tongue.
Some of us have already had the pleasure of meeting the delegation over lunch. The delegation is accompanied by His Excellency the Polish Ambassador, and in a moment I will invite everyone to introduce themselves to the members of the committee. First, I emphasise how happy we are to receive the delegation, and the members of the committee from your great and ancient country, with which we in Ireland feel a particular affinity. In less than a year's time, we know there will be closer ties and that Poland will join the European Union next May, during the Irish Presidency.
I have referred to the Republic of Poland, which came into existence after the end of the first World War, but we have knowledge of the visitors' glorious and often sad history. Poland, like Ireland, has been a victim of unfriendly geographical neighbours.
In more recent times, the achievement of the visitors' countrywoman, a dual Nobel prize-winner, who is better known in Ireland under her married name of Marie Curie, has been an inspiration for many women and men the world over. The honour of naming the elements after one's country is unlikely to be repeated on this planet and will forever remind the listeners of Poland's contribution to scientific discovery, continuing a distinguished tradition.
Other listeners, and those of us who have been involved for most of our lives in the entertainment industry, but particularly in music, will remember one of the greatest ambassadors of all for Poland, Chopin, its famous musician.
Committee members and the Polish delegation will agree, and it has come as no surprise to the visitors to know, that the Pole whom we revere the most today is his Holiness, Pope John Paul the Second. His enduring legacy will extend far beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church, and he is arguably the most influential person of the last quarter of the 20th century.
The delegates come here as representatives of a great and ancient nation. I invite them to introduce themselves.