Visit of the Honourable Dan Hays, Senator, Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, Ireland and Romania
From October 9 to 15, 2005, the Honourable Dan Hays, Speaker of the Senate, led a parliamentary delegation comprised of the Honourable Terry Stratton, the Honourable Wilfred P. Moore, and the Honourable Claudette Tardif, Senators.
The visit to Romania was in reply to an official invitation from the Speaker of the Senate of Romania, Mr. Nicolae Vacaroiu.
In Ireland, the delegation met with:
- Mr. Rory Kiely, Cathaoirleach Seanad Éireann (Speaker, Irish Senate);
- Dr. Rory O’Hanlon, TD, Ceann Comhairle, Dáil Éireann (Speaker, Irish House of Representatives);
- Mr. Brian Hayes, Senator, Leader, Fine Gael Group, Seanad Éireann (Senate);
- Mr. John Dardis, Senator, Deputy Leader, Progressive Democrats, Seanad Éireann;
- Mr. Joe O’Toole, Senator, Coordinator, Independent Senators, Seanad Éireann; and
- Mrs. Mary O’Rourke, Senator, Leader, Seanad Éireann.
In Romania, the delegation met with:
- H.E. Mr. Traian Basescu, President of Romania;
- Mr. Nicolae Vacaroiu, President of the Senate of Romania;
- Mr. Adrian Nastase, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania;
- Mr. George Copos, Deputy Prime Minister of Romania;
- Mr. Teodor Baconschi, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Prof. Dr. Ion Gh. Roşca, Rector, Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest; and
- Mr. Ronald G. Cullen, AECL Project Director, Cernavoda.
In Ireland, the delegation also enjoyed attending the opening of the Canada Room and visiting the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation in Ireland, the Gilmainham Gaol and the Dublin Castle. In Romania, the delegation visited the Palace of Parliament, the Cernavoda 2 Project (CANDU nuclear reactor), met the Canadian staff of Cernavoda and their children, and finally, met students of the Canadian MBA Program in Romania.
During their visit, the Canadian delegation sought to encourage ongoing parliamentary dialogue and friendship between Canada and Ireland and Canada and Romania in all fields of contact; to discuss European Union status and energy-related issues; and to revitalize the links created by shared membership in multilateral organizations such as the UN, NATO and La Francophonie.