Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I join colleagues in extending the greetings of the season to all Members of the Dáil and the Seanad. I extend Christmas greetings to the Taoiseach, his colleagues in Government, the component parties and Independent members of the Government.

I extend the season's greetings to Deputy Kenny and the Fine Gael Party. I hope I did not note any glee on the part of Deputy Kenny in mentioning that we have depleted numbers on this occasion. It is something with which I and my colleagues are coping remarkably well and I am confident it is only a temporary inconvenience. I extend greetings of the season to Deputy Gilmore and the members of the Labour Party and to the Independent Deputies. I join in the good wishes to Deputy Tony Gregory and wish him a speedy return to full health.

I also extend greetings of this special season to the Superintendent, Paul Conway, the Clerk of the Dáil, Kieran Coughlan, and their respective staffs at all levels throughout this institution. I concur with the remarks about the great assistance and support given by all who serve within this institution. It is the unsung aspect of what happens on this site for those of us who are in the public eye and those who are not. The latter make a huge contribution. It is appropriate, then, that I extend my greetings not only to elected Members but to the support staff of the elected Members of all parties, who are the basis of much of the work done for which we are only the public wrapping.

I extend good wishes to the members of the press. Although they are not in the Press Gallery at present, I am sure they are listening. To those who give Sinn Féin fair play, to those who mention us occasionally and to those who ignore us habitually, I extend good wishes and hope they will all employ fair play in 2008. Nollaig shona dhíobh uilig.

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