Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As I will be at the European Council tomorrow and Friday, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, your Office, the Clerk of the Dáil and all the members of staff here in the Houses of the Oireachtas every good wish for the Christmas period and to thank them very much for their co-operation throughout the year and for the long hours they put in to make this House function. I include in these wishes all of our staff, the ushers, the Superintendent of the House, the Captain of the Guard and all of the related staff, and also the clerical, administrative and secretarial staff who do so much work. The House has remained open far longer, and for longer hours, in recent years — perhaps more than the public believes — but it is through the dedication and support of all of the support services in the House that we all can do our jobs. I express my appreciation for their great efforts, which I know are appreciated by all Members.

I also want to thank the Oireachtas press corps who diligently report the issues of the House. I would wish them a happy Christmas in person if they were here, but I will do it in absentia.

Also over the past year on a number of occasions there have been expressions of sympathy here for former Members but also for relatives of present Members of the House, and it is fitting that we should remember the families of former Members and of deceased family members of present Members as well in our prayers over Christmas.

I would also like to extend best wishes to my colleagues on the Opposition benches, to Deputies Kenny, Rabbitte, Sargent and Ó Caoláin, and the Technical Group. While I spend my time answering all their difficult questions, it does not take away from my great admiration for them. We all have a hard job.

See this speech in context