Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Any day that a new Senator comes to the House is always a great day, and we should celebrate it. I am delighted to see my good friend Senator Anthony Lawlor here. When Senator Lawlor was in the other House, he spoke and worked for people from under-privileged backgrounds in Africa and other countries. What he did in the other House emulated what we like to think we do here, and what we do here on a regular basis, namely, speak on behalf of the most vulnerable people in society. I know that Senator Anthony Lawlor will continue that work now that he is back in the Houses of the Oireachtas, where he can and will wield an influence and continue to do the work he has done.I have got to know Senator Ian Marshall over the past number of weeks. He will bring new enthusiasm to this House and not just a knowledge of the situation in Northern Ireland and the tradition and culture from which he comes, but an immense amount of knowledge and information about agriculture which will be very useful.

It is amazing that all the major health scandals in this country have involved women, something to which Alison O'Connor referred last night.