Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Martin Groves ar an bpost nua a ghlac sé. As Leader of the House and on behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I congratulate Mr. Martin Groves who is an honourable, professional and decent man on his appointment to the position of Clerk of Seanad Éireann. During my tenure as Leader I have always found him to be impartial, fair, a thorough professional and an absolute gentleman. I wish him longevity in the post and hope many of us will stay here as long as he has. I congratulate the Chathaoirleach for making this wise and inspired decision. I hope Martin will get the balance right between music, playing the drums and work in order that he can continue to play a role in the evolution of Seanad Éireann.

There is no doubt about that.

We are fortunate to have a good and wise man in the position.

He will not hear such praise again until his retirement.

In welcoming the new I also acknowledge the old. I also commend Ms Deirdre Lane for her work during her tenure as Clerk and wish her well.

Sixteen Members referred to the executive order signed by the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, as well as pre-clearance facilities at and the use of Shannon Airport and the visit of the Taoiseach to the White House on St. Patrick's Day. Irrespective of one's political ideology, it was an extraordinary decision. To see fear and panic on the faces of refugees or ordinary American citizens in trying to go about their daily lives last weekend was appalling. Irrespective of those who protested, to hear the testimonies of people who had been separated from their loved ones and to see people preparing to welcome strangers into their homes beggared belief. Preventing people from entering the United States because of their religious faith is un-American. As the Taoiseach has made clear, it does not stand with the American values many of us share. It is not a policy I share. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, is in discussions in Washington with the American Administration on the matter. What is extraordinary is that rather than making it the United States of America, President Trump is dividing people. Irrespective of the views expressed by Members, either pro or anti, there are genuine concerns and it is important that the Government express them.

On the point made by Senator Catherine Ardagh, the Government created a post of Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora which was held by Jimmy Deenihan and is now held by Deputy Joe McHugh. The Taoiseach appointed Senator Billy Lawless as a representative of the diaspora. The Senator has been strong in standing up for it in travelling across America. There is a need for engagement and I would be interested to hear Senators Catherine Ardagh and Mark Daly flesh out the idea of a task force and what it could achieve. While not ruling it out, there are a Minister of State and a Senator responsible who are working on behalf not just of the undocumented Irish but also those who work in pastoral centres in many parts of the United States on behalf of families and this country. Senator Mark Daly is correct that engaging with the diaspora is critical to maintain strong ties with it.

Equally, it is important that the Taoiseach, on behalf of the people, travel to the United States of America, visit the White House on St. Patrick's Day and engage with the new President, as well as the Secretary of State, Mr. Rex Tillerson, if approved; the Vice President, Mr. Mike Pence, and other members of the US Administration.

We have access to the highest office of the land in America, to the most powerful person in the world. On behalf of the many hundreds of thousands employed in this country and across the world with Irish-American links and having regard to the investment links between the two countries, it would be foolish to cut those ties. It is about diplomacy, access and being able to speak up on behalf of Irish people. The Taoiseach and Ministers will travel not only to Washington DC but also cross from the east to the west coast of America to make that very point. It may not be business as usual and the usual imagery of presenting the President with a bowl of shamrock. Strong words may and should be said to the new Administration. I am confident that the Taoiseach; the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan; and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, as well as Senator Billy Lawless and others will do so on behalf of the people.

I wish to make a point about pre-clearance facilities at Irish airports. I commend the Mayor of Boston, Mr. Marty Walsh, whom I have never met or to whom I have never spoken, for his remarks on RTE at the weekend and yesterday which were measured and considered. They were not knee-jerk, inflammatory or populist but very sincere. They were from a man from Connemara-----

He has good breeding.

-----who became mayor of the most Irish-American city in America, with due respect to Senator Billy Lawless and the city of Chicago. He deserves great credit for the words he expressed.