Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl don Chathaoirleach, do na Seanadóirí uilig, go háirithe an Seanadóir McHugh agus an Seanadóir Kenneally, agus don Teach iomlán as ucht an chomhoibriú maidir leis an reachtaíocht seo, Bille Iascaigh an Fheabhail agus Chairlinn 2006. Ar ndóigh, mar atá a fhios againn go léir, d'fhás an reachtaíocht seo as Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta. Is iontach tráthúil é go bhfuil an reachtaíocht ag dul tríd an Teach an tseachtain seo, tar éis an chomhaontú agus an chomhoibriú idir na páirtithe móra a bheidh i mbun rialtais sa Tuaisceart ag tús mhí Bealtaine.

Mar a dúradh, tá an reachtaíocht seo fíor-thábhachtach. Is reachtaíocht faoi leith atá ann ós rud é go bhfuil comhoibriú idir muid san Oireachtas agus an Rialtas sa Bhreatain Mhór.

I thank the Senators and the House, in particular Senators McHugh and Kenneally, for their co-operation and their understanding of this complex and unique Bill which required the consent of both Houses of the Oireachtas and the approval of the UK Parliament in Westminster. The legislation is unique also in that it grew out of the Good Friday Agreement and what came afterwards. As recently as Monday last we saw that two main parties in the North have decided to work together under the d'Hondt system and establish a government at the beginning of May.

I thank both Senators and the Chair. I also acknowledge the commitment and good will of officials from a number of offices and Departments in Northern Ireland, officials from our Attorney General's office and the officials from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. I thank all of them for the work they have done in progressing this legislation. I hope the legislation will be beneficial to the many stakeholders involved in the Foyle region.

Mo bhuíochas arís agus go raibh maith agaibh as ucht an reachtaíocht a chur tríd ina hiomlán an tseachtain stairiúil seo.