Derek McDowell (Labour)

Ray Hesse, who has worked in the Houses of the Oireachtas for over 30 years, is one of those linchpins. He has always been extraordinarily polite and civil in the guidance he has given all the Members of the Houses and the manner in which he has dealt with the various issues which have arisen over the years. I was looking forward to seeing his firm guidance coming into play yesterday, to deal with SenatorBannon. Perhaps it was not any harm that we were deprived of that last hurrah. In some ways, it is unfortunate that one does not learn much about servants of the Houses until one receives notes setting out their backgrounds when they are retiring.