John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)

On my behalf and on behalf of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle I extend best wishes for Christmas and the new year to the Taoiseach and Deputies Kenny, Gilmore and Ó Caoláin. I thank them sincerely for their co-operation throughout the year. I also take this opportunity to extend our best wishes to our parliamentary colleagues. I am aware of how hard Members of this House work, when the House is sitting and when it is not. I hope they get the opportunity to enjoy Christmas with their families and, in that context, I extend my best wishes to all who are dear to them.

I extend the same sentiments to the Clerk of the Dáil and all the staff, without exception, of the House of the Oireachtas. We do not often get an opportunity to acknowledge how much they do so I thank each and every one of them for their unfailing courtesy and the professional commitment they have shown throughout the year. I sincerely thank the members of the media and the political correspondents who report for newspapers, radio and television. They have an important role to play in the interest of democracy by informing the wider public on the Parliament and how it works. I acknowledge the hard work of the security forces in the House in ensuring everything runs smoothly.

I do not know whether I have proven the old Irish adage "Tús maith, leath na hoibre", but I am grateful to Deputies for their kind sentiments. Guím Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise oraibh go léir.

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