I move:
“That Seanad Éireann:
noting:
- that the 7th of March, 1848, was the day when Thomas F. Meagher raised a Tricolour Flag for the first time, from 33 The Mall in Waterford City;
- that Meagher said of its colours ‘the white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between Orange and Green and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood’;
in this year, the 150th anniversary of the death of Thomas F. Meagher, formally adopts the protocols and guidelines drawn up by the Department of the Taoiseach for the National Flag.”
I thank the Leader for accommodating my request. I thank the Cathaoirleach for using his powers and discretion in moving the motion. I thank the Ceann Comhairle as well for facilitating and placing a Tricolour flag from 33 The Mall over Leinster House today. It is an important occasion on this the 150th anniversary of the death of Thomas Francis Meagher this year. I thank the National Parks Service in the United States for putting a plaque on the Washington monument to commemorate the 1916 Rising and Thomas Francis Meagher, and I thank Ms Nikki Buffa who is Deputy Chief of Staff for her assistance.
