Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two quick matters to raise. I am conscious that not just my colleague but my friend Deputy Simon Coveney, the former Minister, has announced his intention not to seek re-election to the Dáil. As in the past in this House, when people announce their retirement, I want to thank him for his service to his constituency of Cork South Central, to his party but most importantly to his country. Even people who have different political views across this House would acknowledge the very serious body of work he did on behalf of our country during the very difficult and turbulent times relating to Brexit. I wish him, his wife, Ruth, and his children all the very best with the decision.

I am also conscious that today was the final Leaders' Questions that Deputy McDonald and I will be present for before the summer recess. It is therefore the last opportunity that I will have to thank all of the people who work in the Leinster House complex for all their effort and dedication throughout the year. I am conscious that people tune in and watch Leaders' Questions and other business, but there is a whole machine that sometimes people do not see, in terms of ushers, cleaners, caterers, people working in canteens, restaurants, bars, the committees, the Bills Office and the Ceann Comhairle's team, who really keep his place running. For all our limitations at times, this is the home of Irish democracy. Every one of those people plays an absolutely crucial role in facilitating and safeguarding it.

Across the divide in this House, while we can disagree on issues, people work extraordinarily hard. People do their best to serve their constituents. That work continues when this place is in recess. I assure our constituents of that. It is a place that can have antisocial working hours and is not family friendly. In that context, I hope that everybody here gets an opportunity to spend a bit more time with family and to work in a somewhat more organised structure. I wish everybody the very best.

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