Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Harkin and concur with the many tributes paid to her for her tremendous work on behalf of the people of the constituency she represents. She is full of energy and through the extensive portfolio she outlined for us we can see that she is involved in an amazing amount of work. She is pushing at an open door here and will certainly receive a lot of support from us in seeking closer co-operation in ensuring the Seanad plays a role in the scrutiny of EU proposals. I welcome her support for the retention of the Seanad, an issue on which I am aware that she has been campaigning actively. Many Members on the Government benches sing from the same hymn sheet and would be happy to support her efforts. I hope we succeed in that regard, not for personal gain or future involvement, but because it is important that the Seanad is retained in a reformed state.

I am aware that Ms Harkin has been involved in a burning issue in the constituency, that of turf cutting. Does she see any possibility of the European Union agreeing to adjustments that would enable turf cutting to continue on a limited basis on some of the bogs where it has been impossible to arrange transfers? Ms Harkin has met a number of delegations to discuss this issue. Is there any chink of light in that regard or is there any hope we will secure some agreement on or adjustment to the arrangements?

This is Ms. Harkin's second term in the European Parliament. What does she regard as her greatest achievement for the constituency she represents?