Seanad debates

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

10:30 am

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to pay tribute to the Leas-Chathaoirleach, my colleague, Senator Denis O'Donovan. He was also fair and impartial and an excellent vice chairman. I pay tribute to Deirdre, Martin, Aisling and all the staff of the Seanad office for their courtesy and help to me throughout the past five years and previously when I first became a Member.

I pay tribute to Senator Feargal Quinn and Senator Jim Walsh who have announced their retirement. I pay tribute to other colleagues in the House who have decided not to go forward either in the Seanad or the general elections. It has been a privilege to serve with each and every one of them. Like Senator Michael Mullins, before I became a Member I was an avid follower of "Oireachtas Report". I soon went off it when I became a Member and I have not looked at it since.

It was a pleasure to meet Senator Quinn when I first became a Member. Yesterday, Senator Mary Ann O'Brien commented on how she went to one of his shops when she was starting up her business and introduced herself and her product. She was welcomed by the manager of the store, John Foy. John Foy learned a lot from Senator Quinn - he told me as much himself - and he went on to open his own supermarket in Cootehill, County Cavan. The supermarket is going from strength to strength and services not only Cootehill, but much of the surrounding area into County Monaghan and beyond. That is only one of the stories that emerged as a result of Senator Quinn setting up Superquinn. John Foy is one of thousands of people who went on to successful careers of their own as a result of working with Senator Quinn.

I also pay tribute to Senator Jim Walsh. It has been a privilege for me to be a party colleague of his. I am glad to see that he is back in the parliamentary party, where he belongs. As has been said here, Senator Walsh is a man of principle. I agree with most of those principles, but not all of them, and we have had discussions and disagreements in the past. Along with Senator Quinn, I wish them and their families many years of happiness together in future.

Tributes have been paid to the Leader of the House as well and I agree with each of the positive comments made in regard to him. I worked with the Leader when I was Government Chief Whip. We were elected to the House on the same day. We became very close friends when I became Government Chief Whip during the last Seanad. I thank people for their comments in respect of me and the job I have carried out during the past five years. The reason I carried out the job to the best of my ability is that I understood exactly where the Government Chief Whip of the day and his deputy, Senator Hayden, stood when it came to tight votes. In case any of my party colleagues are listening in, I was not a soft touch or anything like that.

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