Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I join in offering congratulations to my constituency colleague, Deputy Brian Cowen, from the Offaly half of the Laois-Offaly constituency. I made the mistake of referring to him as a Laois man recently and every Offaly person has taken me up on it since, but I think they all know it was a genuine mistake. I wish every personal happiness to Mary Cowen and all the Cowen and Molloy families. As a constituency colleague, I can say that within our party, ours is the most peaceful constituency in Ireland for a five-seat or multi-seat constituency. It would be a lesson for other areas. All the party works as a united team.

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