Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is my great pleasure, as Leas-Chathaoirleach and on behalf of all the Senators, to express my sincere gratitude to the Commissioner for her very innovative - if I might use that word - speech today in the Chamber and for her very sincere answers to all the various questions raised. My abiding memory of her, when I had served in the Seanad for some time and when she had attended as both a junior and a senior Minister, is her tremendous bravery on many issues. Sometimes Ministers can cow behind the power of the backroom team. The Commissioner was brave and forward-thinking and had an innate ability to think outside the box on many issues. That is a great credit to her. When history will be written she will be seen as a Minister who took on challenges and did not flinch in times when it probably would have been easier to hide away.

I refer to the Commissioner's remarks on Senator Norris. I can tell her that, like good wine that improves with age, the Senator has become more robust and is still an ardent contributor in many debates. She will be glad to know he has not faded away like a shrinking violet. I am also very encouraged by the Commissioner's answer to the weasel question raised by Senator Zappone. Again, she has been very brave on that issue.

I give sincere thanks to the Commissioner and convey to her the good wishes of this House which go with her today for her future, in her current role as Commissioner and beyond that.