Dan Boyle (Green Party)

On behalf of my colleague Senator de Búrca and I, I am happy to endorse Senator Burke's nomination to the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach. While she and I are new to the Chamber, I had many contacts with Senator Burke around Leinster House during my previous incarnation. I know of his record in the House. His appointment and the Cathaoirleach's appointment at our last sitting indicate the pre-eminence of counties Offaly and Mayo in the political orbits of the country's two largest parties.

I wish to put down a marker. While we are new to the Chamber and I have the honour of being deputy leader for this session, my party aspires to receive some form of condescension from other political parties for the positions of Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach some day.