Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I pay tribute to Des Edwards who is retiring from the usher staff this week after 29 years' service. Des has served the Houses of the Oireachtas for more than 29 years with great distinction and is a very popular character around here. He always displays good humour and is always helpful to us, temporary staff. Des arrived in Leinster House in 1976 and through his long and distinguished career here has rubbed shoulders with the great international statesmen and women of our time who have visited these Houses. He has also had to deal with us, more local types. I think I speak for everyone in this House when I say he was always courteous, professional and extremely thorough in every aspect of his job. He did all of this with a smile on his face and an uncanny knack of putting everyone in good humour no matter what the situation.

Des, as we know, is one of the fittest people around here. He cycled in and out practically every day hail, rain or snow. He is a keen theatre buff but no stranger to outrageous characters, extraordinary plots, unbelievable egos and the odd Greek tragedy, which served him well when working in this place. The Edwards name will not totally disappear from the Houses as a son and daughter of his work here also — a dynasty in the making. He was part of what I call the "holy trinity" with Mr. Paddy Behan and Mr. Frank Lane. Paddy and Frank retired before Christmas and I extend my best wishes to them once more. I wish Des many happy years ahead. Next year, he and his wife Geraldine will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. I extend my congratulations to them and my gratitude to him for his outstanding work here during a distinguished career. He will be missed by all.

See this speech in context