Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to be associated with the welcomes to Senator Hildegarde Naughton. While I hope she will be the last of the Taoiseach's appointees to the Seanad, I hope she will not be the last new Senator and that there will be a future with a more democratically-elected Seanad. It is no reflection on Senator Naughton's abilities and nor does it lessen my welcome to her that her appointment inevitably will be perceived as an act of political vindictiveness on the part of the Taoiseach and more particularly, will be perceived as misusing the Seanad to pursue-----