Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I offer Senator Moylan my sincere congratulations on his unanimous election as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann. It is a great honour for him, his wife, Mary, and his family that he has been selected by the Fianna Fáil Party and unanimously supported by all parties in the House. It is a great personal tribute to his work in the House over the past ten years, as well as his work as Fianna Fáil Chief Whip.

Senators Ormonde, Walsh and I had a contest with Senator Moylan, which shows we are a very democratic party. Our party leader, the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, gave the nomination of the position of Cathaoirleach to the Members of the Fianna Fáil group in this House. Until 1989, it was selected by the Taoiseach of the day. It is one of the only contested offices in this House and the party members select the person to represent them as Cathaoirleach. However, Senator Moylan represents all Members. Having put on the mantle of Cathaoirleach today, undoubtedly he will be completely fair and impartial in his work. I have known Senator Moylan for a long time and am delighted he is joined in the Gallery by his colleagues from Offaly and from the Oireachtas today.

In the circumstances, I wish him health and every success, as well as best wishes in his role as Cathaoirleach. It is a great and well-deserved honour for him personally. I am delighted our party has such an approach to business. Moreover, one will find that we are not in any way daunted by any other Member. The Fianna Fáil group in the House works in harmony and has also initiated legislation. The House's role can be enhanced greatly by introducing legislation here and other Members have also done so. I agree with the Leader that Members can use their existing powers well in this major forum. I congratulate him, Senator Boyle and Senator O'Malley, on their appointments as Leader, deputy leader and leader of the Progressive Democrats, respectively.

While all parties are represented in the House, the media, apart from The Irish Times and Jimmy Walsh, have not given it the recognition it deserves. RTE, as the national broadcaster, completely ignored the Seanad election. We are the organisation's licence holders and it did not fulfil its responsibility, placed on it by the Oireachtas, to cover an election to the Upper House, whose 60 Members represent 4.2 million people. Indeed they represent the whole island of Ireland. RTE was negligent in its position and I am delighted that Senator Cassidy will bring this matter to the attention of the Director General and the chief executive of RTE to ensure that in future, this House will be given proper recognition. If it means meeting earlier or later than the opening of Dáil Éireann, so be it. This is a matter for the House to decide in the hope of receiving greater coverage. I hope we will return as soon as possible, as there are many issues affecting us which will be debated on another day.

A Chathaoirligh, comhghairdeas, congratulations, well done. Thank you for being the person you are and for the friendship you have offered to all of us in recent years.