Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

On behalf of the Fine Gael group in the House, I join with the Cathaoirleach and the Leader in offering our sympathy to the family of Ms Breda Courtney, who was well known to many people in this House and the Dáil for her work as a parliamentary reporter over many years.

As well as expressing sympathy to her family, I sympathise with her work colleagues, who are with us today. The parliamentary reporters in the Debates Office do an essential job in our parliamentary democracy, translating our various mutterings into plain English. They do a terrific job, about which the public needs to know. The debates in this House, the Dáil and at committees are reported quickly so the public can see exactly what goes on in these Houses. Ms Courtney was an essential cog in the wheel, someone who was much loved in this House and who played her part in its workings.

We extend to her family and her work colleagues our deepest sympathy at this very difficult time.