Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I too wish to add my voice in support of the all-party consensus on the Government's approach to Brexit. That is very welcome.

I also pay tribute to all involved in the public hearings of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on the national anthem this morning. That formula is working very well. The Cathaoirleach was the Chair of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee in the last Seanad and I think this House could adopt a Citizens' Assembly-type role with the Public Consultation Committee. It could easily be developed into something much bigger, which could do the work the Citizens' Assembly has been doing. The place for the type of work the Citizens' Assembly has been doing is the Houses of the Oireachtas, specifically in respect of the public consultation model. I believe the people voted to retain the Seanad because they thought that is the type of work Members should and can do. Members are well capable of doing it by bringing in outside experts, calling for public submissions and inviting in the public to give their own views and observations and so on.

I have not spoken in the Order of Business since our former colleague, Denis Landy, announced his retirement from politics. Like everyone else here, I wish to join in the tributes to Denis, who has given many decades of service to local government and has served as a national politician for the last six years.