Deborah O'Neill (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to second the words of the member for Chisholm, and acknowledged the importance of International Women’s Day, but as the Secretary of the Ireland Parliamentary Friends Group and a person of proud Irish heritage, I rise today to pay tribute to a great and historic victory for the Irish people over an old enemy. I am referring of course to Ireland’s magnificent three-wicket win over England at the cricket World Cup in Bangalore.

The names Kevin O’Brien, Alex Cusack and John Mooney may not quite be up there alongside Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and others yet. They will, however, go down in history next to the great Irish heroes and patriots of yore for their courageous victory. Enda Kenny, who will become Ireland’s new Taoiseach next week, has paid a fitting tribute. Mr Kenny described the Irish team as having:

… exemplified all the best qualities of our nation, playing with courage and pride and showing that seemingly insurmountable odds can be overcome.

As a competitive person of Irish roots I know how true that is! I would like to concur with those comments by Mr Kenny, and take the liberty of—on behalf of this House—passing on our warmest congratulations to those wonderful Irish cricketers. St Patrick’s Day has come two weeks early, to be sure, and the green beer will taste even better this year. I acknowledge and applaud the spirit of the Irish cricket team.