Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Seanad for taking the Bill this week. As I said last night, I was wrong to suggest last week that we should deal with it then. Given the number of contributions made, it would have been wrong to rush it through last week. It was a good idea to take the extra time this week to deal with it. I am glad wiser people decided the Seanad should meet to debate the Bill properly. I have learned a great deal from the debate and appreciate Senators' remarks.

I thank the officials from the Department of Transport and other Departments who have put an enormous amount of work into this legislation. The level of detail and advice, financial and legal, has been enormous. I thank the Cathaoirleach and his staff for their patience and courtesy. I thank in particular the spokesperson who carried the debate. I also wish to say, and this is not just a platitude, that I listened to what has been said and in so far as I can as the process moves forward I will seek to instil in the boards going forward Senators' and Deputies wishes as expressed in both Houses.

I thank the staff of Aer Rianta for their many years of work. There is a great deal more to do albeit within different structures. Nonetheless it is work for Irish airports. I thank the staff on behalf of the Government and myself for their work in this regard. I thank the Leader of the House for her contributions. Since entering politics at the age of 25 or 26 years, I have always tried to ensure my differences with others are on policy matters. Those who know me know I fight for policies in which I believe. I do not have personal differences with anybody, particularly colleagues in my own party. I have nothing but admiration for the Leader of the House. My differences are policy ones. I have always fought hard and as long as people support me, I will continue to fight hard for the policies in which I believe. However, that does not mean I am fighting those who disagree with me on policies. I have always made that distinction and always will.

This is only the beginning. There is much more to be done. It is a fresh start about which I am optimistic. However, I am deeply conscious that we must all work for the cause of bettering the country. That is what we do in framing legislation and asking the Houses to endorse it. I thank Members for the consideration they have given this legislation and for the courtesy shown to me during its passage.