Joe O'Toole (Independent)

On behalf of those on the Independent benches, I would like to be associated with the previous comments and offer our condolences to Breda's colleagues, her circle of friends and her family. We may not have known Ms Courtney that well but we would exchange a half smile and a friendly nod whenever she passed by. She was courteous at all times.

The part that she played and her colleagues continue to play in keeping the Irish parliamentary website as one of the most up to date and progressive in all of Europe, as far as I can see from looking at other examples, is something she can share in our thanks for. I do not know if anybody has compared closely what we say and what is produced, or examined how people like Breda can listen, ad nauseam, as we go on with elliptical sentences, half-formed paragraphs, doubtful grammar and general incoherence. This would be transcribed and edited into sentences with perfect grammar and English usage. We are grateful to her for her work in this respect.

I would like her family to know of the part she played in continuing a tradition going back generations to Hansard in the House of Commons. It is an important role and a crucial piece of reference and record. In thanking Ms Courtney, we offer our condolences to her friends and her colleagues especially. They must be shocked at the suddenness of someone who was working here a couple of weeks ago dying so quickly. We also extend sympathy to her family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.