Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

We should not call Athlone "Parlon country".

I extend good wishes to the Cathaoirleach and wish everybody in the House a pleasant break with their families. It is easy for people to suggest that Members have three months off to have fun but in reality we will be working for approximately two and a half of those months.

I wish people respite, however, from the constant daily work. Under the aegis of the Cathaoirleach we have undertaken an immense amount of work in the past term. I am proud of the fact that the guillotine was not applied to any Bill, no matter how long or tortuous it was. There was plenty of time if debate on a Bill needed to be carried over to the following day. Every Bill, therefore, benefitted from long deliberation and detailed reflection in this House.

It was interesting to get feedback from Ministers on that point. They like coming here where debates are civilised and there is an immediacy and an intimacy about the Chamber which lends itself to good debates when the tumult dies down. There have been instances of tumult which are inevitable in any chamber. There is bound to be an adversarial edge to proceedings but it is usually for the good of the business at hand.

I thank the leaders of the various parties who worked co-operatively with all of us. I thank the Ministers and the political parties who all gave generously of their time. I also thank the staff of the Seanad. I have often wandered through here at 10.30 p.m. to see them toiling away at amendments. Enormous respect and appreciation is due to them. I also wish to thank Eamonn McCormack who runs the office.