Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, Regan, Norris and John Paul Phelan congratulated our sportspersons on their wonderful and uplifting achievements. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and Senators from all sides, I wholeheartedly congratulate the national rugby team and Bernard Dunne on their remarkable successes. We must all admire the achievements we witnessed on our television screens. Katie Taylor is an incredible world champion — not once but twice — and she deserves our congratulations.

I wish our colleague, Senator Cannon, happiness on the opposite side of the House. I understand he is the only party leader since I entered the House to have served on both sides in one term. This is a marvellous achievement, which would possibly qualify for entry in the Guinness Book of Records. Given that we all come from the same background, I wish to strike the right note in wishing him health and happiness. I hope the Fine Gael Party looks after him as well as the Government side did.