Before proceeding with the Order of Business, l wish to inform the House that we are joined in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery by the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, accompanied by five members of the Canadian Federal Parliament at Ottowa.
It is an honour for me to extend to you, Mr. Speaker, and to your delegation, a warm welcome to Dáil Éireann. There are many historical and ethnic ties between our two countries which can be traced back to the sixth century. Over the past 15 centuries these ties have grown and strengthened and your visit is a further significant step in the advancement of these ties of co-operation and friendship between our two Parliaments. I express the confident hope that this visit will be to our mutual benefit.