Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I beg the indulgence of the Minister and the members present while I say a couple of words. Sitting to the left of me is Ms Marie Fennell, who has been the clerk to the committee for the past six years. This is Marie's last meeting with us. She is moving on to a different committee where her expertise as Gaeilge will be acknowledged. I wish to thank Marie. When I came to this committee three years ago I was a very green chairperson. She has always been there whenever I needed any help or assistance. She came across to me most weeks to discuss the meeting and set out exactly what would happen. I will always remember the first time I had to deal with a Bill going through the committee. We gave a couple of hours going through the Tá and Níl options. We have put a considerable number of Bills through the committee in the past three years. It has been a highly constructive committee. I thank Marie for her time served with the committee over the past six years and wish her well. She is not leaving Leinster House, merely moving to another committee.