Before I call the Deputy Leader, I welcome the students and teachers from Loreto Secondary School in Wexford. They are guests of Deputy Howlin. They are most welcome here today and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. As is the tradition for any school visits to Leinster House, there is no homework - at least I hope there is no homework for the weekend anyway.
Today is the national day for our friends in Austria and the ambassador, H.E. Mr. Nader, is most welcome here. I thank him for being here in Seanad Éireann today. He has vast experience in the Middle East conflict. Obviously, Ireland and Austria, as two neutral countries, have a great interest in peace around the world and ensuring that current global conflicts are resolved in peaceful ways. Of course, the Irish and the Austrians have a great link through the Wild Geese. The O'Donnells, Laceys, Brownes, Kavanaghs and many others went off to serve in the Austrian military after the Wild Geese left these shores. During an assassination attempt on Emperor Franz Joseph, he was saved by an Irishman Maximilian O'Donnell who was then made a count. Of course, our history goes back much further to the Irish monks who went all the way to Salzburg in the eighth century. St. Coloman was martyred near Vienna in 1012 and is venerated as one of Austria's national saints. Not only do we celebrate a national day together, but we also celebrate that shared link. The ambassador is most welcome here on Austria's national day and I thank him for being here.