Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today is a day on which we reflect on the past five years and it is important we thank people. I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, the Leader and the Deputy Leader, Deirdre Lane and all the staff in the Seanad office, the ushers and everybody around the House who has helped us over the past five years.

During this term, we retained the Seanad, and rightly so. I wish all incoming Senators all the best and hope their presence justifies why the Seanad was retained. These five years I have made many friends in this House and met many people whom I will not forget. Whether I get back here is up to the people when I knock on their doors over the next few weeks after the general election. I thank everybody for the courtesy and friendship they have shown to me.

I know we cannot get a Minister to come into the House now but there is one issue which the new Seanad, or even the new Dáil, should look at. Yesterday, driving from Kilkenny, I filled my car with diesel which cost 99 cent per litre. When I got to Dublin, I noticed the price per litre was €1.06, €1.07 or €1.08. Somebody has to do something about this. The same company from which I bought my fuel in Kilkenny are selling it in Dublin for €1.06. Somebody is ripping somebody off. The oil companies have to be questioned on the price of diesel. We know the price of a barrel of oil has dropped to under $30.

I wish everybody running in the Dáil and Seanad elections every success. I hope many of us will be back here.