Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I welcome my friend and colleague, Senator Mark Dearey, to this House. He has been a member of Louth County Council and of Dundalk Town Council for five years before that. Along with his colleagues in County Louth, he helped deliver the best Green Party performance in the previous local elections which were otherwise quite poor and difficult for our party. He has shown himself to be a person who is able to connect and represent people in his local community. He will be an asset to the House, as he has a background in running a successful business, the Spirit Store in Dundalk, which background will inform many of the debates in the House regularly called for on the Order of Business, particularly on the difficulties facing small business. I look forward to hearing his contributions on these subjects.

As has been pointed out, this is a day which has consequences for other friends and colleagues of ours. It also happens to be Senator Dearey's daughter's birthday and I hope when this day is remembered, it will be for the best personal and family reasons.

On the other issues raised, particularly as they reflect on the other House, a statement will be made after the Order of Business in the other House which will help to inform the situation. We must avoid the instant politics that some in the media expect from representatives.