Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in wishing Senator Craughwell well and I congratulate him. Senator O'Sullivan summed it up very well in that at the outset of this campaign, the general public and certainly those of us in the political system would have seen Senator Craughwell's nomination and subsequent election bid as a token gesture because of the precedence set down through the years of by-elections. I was also elected to this House in a by-election, primarily because the then Government held a majority. I am sure Senator Craughwell's time here will be well spent.

Senator O'Sullivan referred to the TUI. I live in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, and all the teachers in the local vocational school, with which Senator Craughwell will be familiar, are members of the TUI and from that point of view, I have a certain empathy. I have no doubt Senator Craughwell will bring all of his experience and expertise in the education sector and beyond to the deliberations of this House. Once again, I congratulate him and his family as this is a very proud day for them.