Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

I thank members of our usher staff, who are unfailingly helpful to us, for having brought to my attention earlier the fact that a Deputy is celebrating his 40th anniversary as a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas this week. The Deputy in question served for four years in Seanad Éireann and has served for 36 years in this House. Deputy Brendan Howlin has contributed enormously over those years to these Houses. His dignity and integrity have always been his outstanding features, and his contribution to public life in Ireland has been without parallel. Let us give him a round of applause.

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