Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have managed to be in the Chair for about two and a half hours of this debate, except for the votes. We got through the Bill very efficiently. All the Members participated and they put their points and got their answers from the various Ministers who were present. There was some delight from some Members that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, had turned into the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, but he was able to respond to all the questions on transport. I wish the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and the entire Government, who have done sterling work on this legislation, well. It was dealt with efficiently in both Houses of the Oireachtas. It is a complex Bill as Members outlined. If the vote in Westminster had gone differently, we would have hardly needed this legislation at all, but in fact as a result of last night, while it is to be hoped we will never need it, it is certainly more important now than it would have been 24 hours ago. I wish the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade well in all his endeavours on behalf of Irish people and the country, as I am sure everybody in the House does. It reflects well on the Dáil and the Seanad that we got through as much business as we did. Well done to the Cathaoirleach and everybody in the House.