Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Leas-Chathaoirleach, I welcome our new Senator to this august Chamber. I wish her a long career here, or maybe in the other House if that is what she desires. It is a great day for her and her family.

I add my condemnation of and deep disgust at what happened in Paris, our neighbouring city. It is much easier to fly to Paris than to get from Cork to Dublin. While it takes four and a half hours to drive from my home to Dublin, one can fly to Paris in an hour and 15 minutes. It is to be hoped we can get the right answers. The Syrian situation is very grave and there is much international concern. That a group of people, probably no more than 200 or 300 so-called jihadists can hold the world to ransom is a frightening scenario.

Although I had other matters to raise today, it is the wrong day to raise them. I concur with what my learned colleague, Senator Norris, said about a smear campaign against somebody who was never approached by a garda. Senator Norris rightly condemned the media for having a trial before anyone was arrested or questioned or had a file sent to the DPP. As spokesperson on justice for Fianna Fáil in the House, I think the garda or gardaí, who must have been at the level of sergeant or higher, who leaked the information should be gravely ashamed of themselves and the damage they have done.