Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I welcome this debate and I am delighted that Senators Norris and Barrett tabled this motion for discussion. While it is not of immediate importance at this stage - and hopefully it will be seven years before we have another presidential election - we are pleased to have President Michael D. Higgins in office. I am sure the matter is worthy of discussion at this point because there is plenty of time to do so.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and liked what he had to say in his address. I think I am the only one here who can remember being on my father's shoulders watching President Seán T. O'Kelly on his inauguration day. There is certainly nobody else in the House who was around then, not even Senator Norris.