Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish Senator Ó Clochartaigh well. I first met him 11 years ago, I think, when I worked as a SIPTU official in Connemara, That was my first job. I was struck then by his huge commitment to his community and the community enterprise he was managing at the time. Then I met him over the years at various Sinn Féin events and followed and admired his work here in recent years. He has made a huge contribution. I am amazed by the number of people Senator Ó Clochartaigh managed to get around after the last election. I was one of those people. One is like a fish out of water here when one arrives first, and I really appreciated Senator Ó Clochartaigh's generosity in guiding me around the place and providing advice. People were right to mention remembering his commitment to real causes in terms of social justice at home and abroad and the fact that he has known he is leaving for the past number of weeks but has been consistent to the end in his support for the causes he has always supported during his seven years here. His departure will be a huge loss to the Seanad and a huge gain to TG4.

I wish to reflect on another matter. The House will remember when TG4 was first set up. By the way, I think it had a little more to do with Michael D. Higgins than Fianna Fáil, but we will not get into that today.