Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom comhcheangal leis na Seanadóirí eile agus míle buíochas a ghabháil leis an Chathaoirleach. Is post an-ghnóthach atá anseo agat. Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Seanadóir Maurice Cummins, mar Leader an tSeanaid. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir David Norris, is eisean "the best Leader ever". I can say that from my term in the Seanad, but coming from Senator Norris, the Leader can very fittingly take a bow, as can the Cathaoirleach, given the way he has chaired. Gabhaim míle buíochas freisin le Deirdre, Martin, Aisling agus an foireann go léir in Oifig an tSeanaid agus leis na huiséirí agus na gardaí atá ansin gach uile lá. Gabhaim buíochas le hOrla Murray freisin, atá in oifig an Cheannaire, agus lena fear céile, an Seanadóir John Crown. Táim ag ceapadh go ndúirt seisean freisin that he was retiring.

I said a few words yesterday about Senator Quinn. He is a man of the people as well as a businessman, a man of the Seanad and he has proposed much legislation. It is said that if one gives a busy person some work, it will be done. There is no better man to say that of than Senator Feargal Quinn.

Another Member of the Seanad who has done the Seanad some service in bringing forward legislation, along with Senator Quinn, is Senator Jim Walsh. I have soldiered a long time with him and I wish him well. He is a man of his word. What he says, he always carries out. I worked with him on the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, and I want to note in particular the interest he took in the North-South situation. I am a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly now, but when we were members of LAMA, along with Michael Lawlor, and setting up the Confederation of European Councillors, as we have seen with the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, networking on the ground was so important. We set up the North-South body of councillors, with Senator Quinn guiding it. It is a thing we will have to look at again because it is the bottom-up approach. The councillors are so important, as is networking and North-South co-operation. I will talk to Councillor Colm Brophy, who is now president of the AILG, and maybe he will be able to carry that forward. While I am talking about Senator Walsh and co-operation, I want to particularly thank all the Senators who served on the banking inquiry. I know Senator Michael D'Arcy mentioned them yesterday. As Senator Moloney said, the names of Senators Quinn and Norris are often mentioned. I have heard Senator Barrett's name mentioned with particular reference to his input on economics and to the banking inquiry since it was set up. I want to pay tribute to all those who spent hours and hours in the basement, including Senator Michael D'Arcy-----