John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Yes, but the way we pronounce words can cause difficulty.

The editor and his staff must also be commended on the speed with which the debates now emerge. The length of time it took for debates to appear was a constant source of irritation and complaint some years ago. It is obviously important that they appear quickly. The editor has additional responsibilities now, with the Internet. It is good to see the debates on DVD, but traditionalists such as myself still like to ensure that the books are maintained and that we have the physical record of debates in the Library. I wish Mr. Fitzgibbon all the best in his retirement. I must thank him, in particular, for making the debates more readable than they were, perhaps, in the past.

I thank the Cathaoirleach also for the way he has conducted proceedings in an impartial manner and with humour. He has always been able to rein in the excesses, when required, of some of the Senators. It was evident on a number of occasions that his experience as a county board member in a well-known hurling and football county came to his assistance. Some of the rough and tumble there might have been even more excessive than here.

I also join my fellow Senators in thanking the Clerk, the Assistant Clerk and everyone in the Cathaoirleach's office for the extraordinary amount of work they do during the parliamentary year. I thank too the staff of the Houses and the debates staff, as well as the press and in particular Jimmy Walsh of The Irish Times, for their reporting of the proceedings of the House during the year.