Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too wish to join in the tributes to thank Jody for all her help. I am a Member for less than three years but I can still remember the day I entered the Seanad and met the formidable team between Deirdre and Jody who were very helpful in ensuring I had guidance and advice. Straight talking is a word that applies when one asks if something can or cannot be done as one is given the absolute advice on it. Jody has provided us with a fountain knowledge, individually as Members and collectively as a Seanad, for which I thank her. On my own behalf, she has always been there to answer questions and to give advice and guidance. Her immense experience in the Houses is obvious. On behalf of the Independent group of Members, each of us with our own agenda, I thank her for helping to steer us through the challenge we have in the Seanad and wish her the very best in her early retirement, as Senator Ivana Bacik has said. It is very much "good bye" and not a "farewell". I hope we will still see her around the Houses and that she will come to visit and continue to give us advice as she looks on from a distance.

Today is the 14th anniversary of the direct provision system, a system we should not have in Ireland. People have been in the direct provision system for many years. I urge all Members to look at the Human Rights in Ireland blogathon today. Every half hour, for 14 hours, it is putting up experiences of those in direct provision for asylum seekers and those from advocates who are seeking change.

This is Irish Heart Foundation, stroke awareness week. I remind Members that if they are looking for signs of a stroke to act fast. One should look at the person's face to see If it has fallen to one side, check the arms to see if the person can raise them and note if speech is slurred. If in any doubt I advise people to call 112 or 999. We need to be much more stroke-aware. If we can get in early with strokes, so much can be done for people. If we delay giving help to a person suffering from a stroke irreparable damage can be done. I ask everybody to promote stroke awareness week.