Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

On behalf of myself and Fine Gael I wish Shay the very best for the future. He has had a bird's-eye view of Irish political history over four decades and he has watched those of us on temporary contracts coming and going. No doubt he will have many stories to tell because I have often seen his face in the background of many of those prominent photographs taken of people exiting these Houses, sometimes in joy and sometimes in sorrow. There is no doubt that Shay has copies of the photographs.

In my time in this House I have admired in Shay and many of his colleagues the quiet efficiency in the way they go about their work and the way they treat us and everybody else coming through the House. In those years I have found Shay a man of very few words but he has a very friendly way of dealing with people. He gives a sense of confidence when he meets with people and in recognition of that, we will not give a long and flowery speech because that is not the type of man he is. I wish him and his family the very best for the future and I hope he enjoys retirement.