Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Science and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to speak very briefly in support of the comments by Senator Ferguson. It was a great privilege to participate in the parliamentary delegation to Turkey and to Ireland. For me, it was a very special trip to Ireland because, as Senator Ferguson said, I was a celebrity wherever I went as soon as they realised I was born there. It was very special.

One of the most moving experiences that any delegation can have is to visit Canakkale to look at the graveyards there. It makes you appreciate the significance of the whole Anzac story. That was certainly the case for the delegation this time. I join with Senator Ferguson in thanking Her Excellency Ambassador Dunn and her husband, and all the embassy staff in Turkey. They did an amazing job. They kept us on our toes. We were briefed extensively on cultural, economic and political issues. We were there at a time when there was a heightened security alert, and we got to understand what the impacts of that were on the country, and that was very significant and very important for us to understand.

I want to speak briefly today, because I know we have a lot of business ahead of us. I want to make some comments about the trip to Ireland and the fact that for me it was very significant. We went back to where I was born, Wicklow. That was an emotional experience, but it was also fascinating to be able to show the delegation where I was born and the people who are so significant to me. We were able, by visiting Wicklow jail, to make a very concrete connection between our earlier visit to County Monaghan and the Carrickmacross poorhouse in County Monaghan, which was where many people gave up everything and then finally were accepted on ships for Australia. It was where a lot of Australia’s Irish immigrants came from. To see that and then the Wicklow jail, which is a very significant historic jail, demonstrated the connections with Australia. It was graphically demonstrated as well, as we had a re-enactment of floggings and drama to get us into the atmosphere. That was very significant.

Most significant too, though, was the engagement that we had with the members of the Irish parliament. We met members of all parties and had side meetings. We had a meeting with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Greens and the Labour Party. Some of us met with some Sinn Fein members, which was also very important. Listening to the political dynamics of what is going on in Ireland was very significant as well. That is something you do not get to do very often and it was much appreciated.

We were very well looked after by Dr Rory O’Hanlon. We were overwhelmed by his hospitality. First of all, informally, when we arrived in Ireland very late one evening—I think it was almost midnight by the time we got to the motel—there was Dr O’Hanlon waiting to greet us officially. Not only did he do that and meet us the next day but he also picked me up for mass at 7 o’clock on the Sunday morning. It was just lovely to do that and to experience an Irish mass. It is exactly the same as a mass in Australia, I have to say, but it was beautiful, and it was very thoughtful of him and his wife. Then I went back to his house and actually had morning tea with him—that was an extraordinary personal gesture that he made.

He looked after us so well during the delegation. On the final evening we had a dinner. I just felt that it was such an extraordinary experience that I wanted to express my appreciation for all that had been done. So I did, in Gaelic. I would actually like to put on the parliamentary record what I said in Gaelic, if I may. What I said on behalf of all of the delegation members was:

Ta athas an domhan ar an toscaireacht a bheith anseo inniu_go haraithe me fhein, mar ta me arais i mo thir dhuchais.

Rugadh I gCill Maintain me agus ce go bfhuil conai orm anois san Astrail, mothaim go bfhuil me abaile abhus in Eirinn.

Is cuis bhroduil idom a bheith libh mar ionaidhi de mo thir nua, an Astrail

-tir in a rinne munitir na h Eireann sar-obhair o bunaoidh i nios mo na dha chead bliain o shoin.

Basically, what I said on behalf of us all was that our delegation was delighted to be there and that I was especially pleased to be back in Ireland. I was born in Wicklow and, even though I live in Australia, I still felt very much at home in Ireland. I was very proud to be there that day as a representative of Australia, a country to which Irish people had made such a huge contribution since its foundation over 200 years ago. It was a wonderful trip. I concur with Senator Ferguson. The company was fantastic, the support we had from everyone was wonderful and I think we all learned immensely. I think we did something good about strengthening the relationship between Australia and those two countries.

Question agreed to.