Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank Senators on all sides of the House, my party spokesperson, Senator Sheahan, Senator O'Keeffe and Senator Hayden, who led for the Government, Senator Byrne who led ably for his party, Fianna Fáil, Senator Reilly, who is not here but who contributed, and Senators Quinn and Barrett for their engagement. I know Senator van Turnhout could not be here today but made an important contribution to the child care debate as well. This House certainly put me through my paces. I very much enjoyed it - largely. We have better legislation at the end of this process than we had at the beginning of it. I sincerely thank everyone for that. I also sincerely acknowledge the great work of my excellent officials sitting with me here today and in the Visitors Gallery. I know all of the Senators who dealt with them found them extremely open and amenable to talking through aspects of the Bill, and I acknowledge the significant engagement they undertook with the interested bodies, like the Irish Hotels Federation and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. That engagement has led to better legislation. I hope it has shown Parliament in a good light, where we have worked constructively. I thank the Seanad for the passage of this legislation.