Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator McDowell and I echo his words. I thank Commissioner Šefovi very much for his work. I had the opportunity to meet him over a year ago when things looked very different. I remember speaking to him at that time. The one thing that came through incredibly to me was that for someone who was not an Irishman his fundamental understanding of the need for patience when tackling an issue that is as complex as can be when it comes to Northern Ireland. Overwhelmingly he moves at the pace that is required.

He has that patience and he works it and works it until a solution can be arrived at. Over that last period of time, we owe him such a great debt of thanks and have to acknowledge that incredible work was done. We also acknowledge the work done by the current British Government in moving and wanting to bring a resolution to this. It is a credit to everyone involved to have got the conclusion but particularly to Commissioner Šefovi for that work he did in those hours, days and times when people were not really moving in the right way. I also thank the Commissioner for his time today and for engaging with our committee as I know he has on many occasions, and for taking the time to answer members' questions. I look forward to further engagement which I believe will be needed at various points. In concluding today's meeting, my thanks go again to him and to his staff and to the members who participated. With that, I hand back to Commissioner Šefovi for a final word.