Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On a personal level and on a human level, the Senator has been an exceptional colleague and friend. Her good humour and ability to reach across the aisle, to cajole and to work with all Members in a very positive manner is one we should commend. We will miss the Senator. She has always been in good humour; I have never seen her in bad form even when she was under pressure or putting us under pressure. She brought a great sense of joy to the work in Leinster House. I hope that her postcards from the European Parliament will become part of what she does. We looked forward to and enjoyed the Senator's lovely personal notes and cards every summer, for which we thank her. We thank the Senator's family and wish them well, and her supporters and successors. As Senator Conway said, Senator O'Sullivan is now one of the MEPs for Ireland South and represents 12 counties, which is a daunting task. The Senator ran a fantastic campaign and as she takes up her seat at the European Parliament, we bid her adieuand wish her well. I ask that she does not forget us and we look forward to her coming back to us. Míle buíochas and go n-éirí leat.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of the national broadband strategy. It is important in the context of the contributions this morning and the national broadband strategy to acknowledge that words matter. I challenge all Members to read the transcript of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment to see what was said, what was re-said, what was not said and what was interpreted. All of us want to have broadband rolled out. I do not blame Senator Ardagh or any other Senator for coming in here to play political football with the issue. It is their job. Why did Eir withdraw from the tender process? It was an independent process. The Eir submission was not as it said yesterday-----