a message from mark

It is an honour to serve as a Senator since 2007 and to have been re-elected unopposed as the 26th Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann.

In 2022 I chaired the Seanad ' Public Consultation Committee on the Topic of Constitutional Future of The Island of Ireland’ which sought the views of all people across the island on the future they envision for the Island of Ireland.

Working with Members of Congress since 2021 we built the American Irish Legislative Caucus, a bi-partisan network of current and former American Irish Legislators who are friends of Ireland from across the United States of America at the local and state level of government. The Caucus is inclusive. It is open to everyone, those who have Irish heritage and those who are supporters of Ireland.

From 2017 to 2020 I published a series of 6 reports on the topics of Uniting Ireland, Brexit & the Future of Ireland including the first ever report by a Dáil or Seanad Committee on the issue of 'Uniting Ireland and its people in peace and prosperity'. This was followed by a further five reports on the topic of a United Ireland which can be accessed at the Shared Ireland section of this site.

In 2018, the Seanad Public Consultation appointed me as rapporteur on the topic of National Anthem. Following the consultation, protocols were established for the first time, and an Irish Sign Language version of the National Anthem to ensure accessibility for the deaf community.

In 2016, while working with the Minister for Disabilities, we passed the Irish Sign Language act which granted civil rights to the 50,000 members of the deaf community in Ireland. This was only the sixth time an opposition senator successfully passed legislation. The Act was the result of years of tireless campaigning by the ISL community, and I was proud to champion their cause in the Seanad.

In the years leading up to 2016 and the centenary of the Rising, I was honoured to be part of the All-Party Decade of Commemorations Working Group.  I contributed to several key projects that were rolled out that year, including the Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection, the opening of the GPO 1916 Exhibition and the TF Meagher foundation event that was held in Croke Park. This event was the second largest of the year after the Easter parade and was attended by every secondary school in the state, along with President Michael D. Higgins.

After my first election to the Seanad, I was appointed to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, where I have continued to work closely with our global Irish family. In 2013, I was honoured to become the first-ever spokesperson for the Irish Overseas and the Diaspora and published the first report on the subject by any political party on the subject.

If I can be of assistance to you at any time please contact me at (01) 618 3830 or email [email protected]
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