Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I salute Longford in the Visitors Gallery. I agree with my good friend Senator Darragh O'Brien's tribute to the late great Tom Fitzgerald of Dingle. He was a thorough gentleman who never allowed political differences to interfere with friendship, a bit like the good Senators opposite. I had the honour of serving with him on Dingle harbour board for nine years, Kerry County Council for a period and in this House between 1997 and 2002. We will have another opportunity to say a few more words on another day to tell a few of his witty stories and so on and I look forward to that.

Will the Leader provide an early debate on the Law Reform Commission's report on mandatory sentencing and, in particular, its recommendations that judges be allowed to provide for whole of life sentences, including 35 years for murder, and that the Judicial Council be empowered to publish guidance and guidelines for judges? This detailed document was launched earlier and it would be worthy of debate in early course.