Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Despite my youthful appearance and status as a new Senator, I have the distinction of having come into the Seanad with the Cathaoirleach in 1989. I have very fond memories of that. It is for that reason I rise to congratulate him. Since that time, I have known him as an absolute gentleman. He brings his gentlemanly qualities into his interaction with colleagues. They are a facet of all aspects of his life and the reason he is in politics.He is here to do good and will be an excellent Cathaoirleach. I congratulate him warmly.

I congratulate Senator Jerry Buttimer, a colleague and friend with whom I served in a previous Seanad, on his selection as Leader. He is a person of great intelligence and personal courage within his personal life and in the public arena. I congratulate him warmly. I will leave the more ponderous remarks to another day when we discuss Seanad reform, which is a debate I would like to take part in and, on this felicitous day of camaraderie, welcome my former colleague and friend from County Monaghan, Francie O'Brien. I acknowledge my other constituency colleague who has been reinstated as Fianna Fáil Whip, Senator Diarmuid Wilson. He must be doing something right.