Denis Landy (Labour)

I ask the Cathaoirleach for latitude as this my first contribution. I am learning from seasoned Senators how to get more speaking time.

Local government, which has a strong place in the democratic system, does not receive much of a hearing. In this regard, I thank the 880 councillors who elected 43 of the Senators present. I also congratulate the Taoiseach's nominees and the six Senators elected by university graduates. Local authority members are the forgotten electorate and practitioners of democracy in their own right. No one referred to them last Wednesday or thus far today. I thank them for putting up with Seanad candidates when we were on the road for six or eight weeks and engaging in the democratic process by electing us.