Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Labour Party group, I welcome Senator Denis O'Donovan's election as Cathaoirleach and wish him well and comhghairdeas. He will make an excellent Cathaoirleach. I welcome the appointment of Senator Jerry Buttimer as Leader of the Seanad, and leader of the Fine Gael group. I saw how well the Senator chaired the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children during the previous term of the Dáil and Seanad. He will do well and I look forward to working with him and with Senator Catherine Ardagh, as leader of the Opposition. She will make an excellent leader. I knew her father, who chaired the justice committee when I was first elected to the Seanad. He was a superb representative.

It is not a day for long political speeches. We will all work together in a spirit of collaboration and new politics in this new Seanad to be an effective and progressive Upper House. We all feel very strongly about particular issues around equality, human rights and social justice. I agree with Senator Leyden that a joint, cross-party motion, agreed by all the leaders of the different groups, on the release of Ibrahim Halawa would be a very good way for the new Seanad to begin its work. There are many other issues on which we will all be working over the coming years and I look forward to working with all the Senators in that spirit. It can be a very exciting and progressive Seanad and I look forward to it.