Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

While others have paid tribute to him previously, I wish to thank him for what I believe was a visionary Ministry. As Minister for Education and Skills, he worked incredibly hard and was incredibly dedicated to making changes and to taking on the difficulty of effecting change, which as all Members are aware, is something people talk about but find incredibly difficult to do. He has started the changes that are necessary in the education system to retain the things that are good about it and to improve the things that ought to be improved.

On the Middle East and the conflict that is unfolding there as I speak, it is deeply disheartening to hear the same language, the same difficulty and the same entrenched positions, as people yet again are losing their lives in Palestine where the same inflamed situation is happening over again. Anyone listening to the news in recent days can discern it will only unfold and get worse. I hope the Minister for Foreign and Affairs and Trade or whoever the incoming Minister will be, will do everything he or she can to at least assist, if at all possible, to try to bring an end to this conflict.

Finally, I pass my best wishes to the family of Gavin Glynn, the young four-year old who has just undergone emergency surgery in Texas. In particular, I thank the people of Ireland for raising €350,000 and showing yet again what an extraordinary spirit we have when we pull together. It shows what extraordinary community spirit we have when someone is in need. Clearly, young Gavin's need was greater than most and the people of Ireland came to his aid. I trust and hope that his recovery will be a good one and that his parents will be able to continue to support him. They are in Members' thoughts at this time.