John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)

Thar ceann an Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus thar mo cheann féin, gabhaim buíochas le ceannairí na bpáirtithe as an méid atá ráite acu. Tacaím an deis seo chun buíochas a ghabháil le gach duine sa Teach agus i gcóngar dó a chintíonn gur féidir linn ár ghnó a dhéanamh gach lá go héifeachtach. Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomhghleacaithe parlaiminteacha as a gcomhoibriú i rith na bliana agus as a dtiomantas do phróiseas an daonlathais. Tuigim cé chomh dian dícheallach a oibríonn siad, ní hamháin nuair a bhíonn an Dáil ina suí, ach freisin nuair nach mbíonn.

Gabhaim buíochas le Cléireach na Dála agus lena fhoireann agus leis an bhfoireann i m'oifig féin as an Teach a reáchtáil go rí-éifeachtúil. Gabhaim buíochas freisin le comhaltaí na meáin as a ndian shaothar, ár gcomhfhreagraithe polaitíochta a dhéanann tuairisciú do na nuachtáin, don raidió agus don teilifís. Ba mhaith liom Nollaig shona agus gach rath san athbhliain a ghuí ar ghach duine sa Teach.

On my behalf and on behalf of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I thank the party leaders and the Tánaiste for their comments. I take this opportunity to thank everyone in the House and its precincts who ensured that we were able to go about our daily business efficiently and effectively. I thank in particular my parliamentary colleagues for their co-operation during the year and their commitment to the democratic process. I know how hard all my colleagues work not only when the Dáil is in session, but also when it is out of session. I thank the Clerk of the Dáil and his staff and the staff of my office for their smooth and efficient running of the House and their unfailing courtesy and professional commitment throughout the year. I wish the Members who have generously acted as Acting Chairpersons during the year a very happy Christmas; Members of the House and the democratic process owe them deep gratitude. I thank members of the media and the political correspondents who report for newspapers, radio and television; they have a crucial role to play in the interests of democracy of informing the wider public about Parliament and how politics work.

I sincerely wish everyone in the House a very happy Christmas and successful new year. It is only appropriate that we wish our many fans, who join us often on television, every possible happiness and success also. We will now move to the Order of Business proper.

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