Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It has been a great privilege to be here. I consulted the Official Report today to recall my first speech in the Dáil. I was allowed to speak on the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 1981 for an hour entirely as Gaeilge. I do not think the Leas-Cheann Comhairle would be as liberal with speaking time as his predecessor was on that occasion. I suppose there was length in the speech anyway, whatever about its content. It has been a privilege to serve here under six taoisigh and five leaders of my own party. Since that time, there have been five leaders of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's party and the Labour Party as well. There has been just one leader of Deputy McDonald's party and I suppose he will be here for a while yet. It has been a great privilege to be here.

Given that my first speech was in Irish, ba mhaith liom deireadh a chur le mo chuid cainte sa Dáil trí mheán na Gaeilge freisin. Is mian liom buíochas a thabhairt do na daoine i dTír Chonaill a thug tacaíocht dom in olltoghchán i ndiaidh olltoghchán le breis agus 30 bliain. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a thabhairt do na daoine uilig eile a thug tacaíocht dom, ina measc baill de mo theaghlach féin a thug tacaíocht dom i gcónaí. Ba mhaith liom chomh maith buíochas a thabhairt d'oifigigh an Oireachtais - the staff of these Houses - fá choinne chomh cuirtéiseach agus chomh cuidiúil a bhí siad i rith an tréimhse atá caite agam anseo. Ní bheidh mé ar ais. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a thabhairt duit féin, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Feicim go bhfuil an Teachta Ó Coinn anseo. Tá súil agam go mbeidh gach duine eile anseo ar ais. I hope everyone here who is going forward in the election will be back again. Thank you very much. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

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