Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before calling on the Leader to respond, I also convey my good wishes to Martin McGuinness in his recuperation and wish him a pleasant retirement. It is a loss that he never visited Seanad Éireann. We had anticipated that he would attend the House before the month was out, following approaches made to his office by my predecessor, Senator Paddy Burke, in the last Seanad. The reason it did not happen was that it was presumed and hoped by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges that the First Minister and the deputy First Minister would both attend. However, there was a reticence on the part of the First Minister to do so. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges then suggested and agreed that Martin McGuinness would address the House. It is a great loss to the Seanad and the Oireachtas generally that the address did not happen as he would have shared a lot of views and we would have had the opportunity to ask many important questions.That has passed and I wish him the best of luck in his retirement. I call the Leader to respond.