Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I echo the sentiments of Senator Mooney and the Leader on the loss of Alexis Fitzgerald, a most popular, friendly and courteous man to meet. I extend the sympathy of the Independent Senators to his wife, Mary.

I welcome that two of the students injured in Berkeley, Niall Murray and Jack Halpin, are returning to Ireland this week. For them and the others who survived that tragedy - Sean Fahey, Conor Flynn, Clodagh Cogley, Hannah Waters and Aoife Beary - we wish that this summer will be a time in which they can recover fully. We also think of the other foreign disasters for Irish people in the early summer, particularly for the Carty family in County Meath and the Hayes family in Athlone who were bereaved by the Tunisian event.

Like Senator Bacik, I welcome the work of Dr. Stephen Kinsella. He is around these Houses quite frequently; he attended a finance committee meeting last week. He is a most interesting person to meet regarding many aspects of how the Irish economy might develop. Perhaps we will see more of him in the House.

I hope the people in Greece and Germany will not put a currency before a country. There has been too much of that. One does not make a god of a currency. It is simply a means of exchange between countries and it has received far too much prominence.

I welcome the good news that three-quarters of our population have high or very high satisfaction with life in this country, despite all of our problems. That brings to mind a former Member of the House, W. B. Yeats, and his words:

Cast your mind on other days

That in the coming days may be

Still the indomitable Irishry.

Despite banks, their accounts and so forth we are still doing well, surviving and emerging from these great disasters. That is a positive note to mention. Some people will be taking up their buckets and spades, as the newspapers put it, but the banking committee will be working for another two weeks. We will continue to delve into these matters and the Members will not be disappointed by the work of Senators O'Keeffe, MacSharry and Michael D'Arcy. This House has been splendidly represented on that committee and it will be a good report.