Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Gallagher. It is a great day for him to have a Private Members' Bill pass all Stages in both Houses. What is good for Carrickmacross is good for Ireland. The consequences of the legislation will benefit people in many towns throughout the country. I come from Ennistimon, County Clare, where, I think, Devas was the gentleman to whom people paid their ground rent. It was up to the estates in England or wherever else as to whether they would sell the properties. When this legislation is passed, signed by the President and enacted, it will benefit a great many people. I acknowledge the presence of the people in the Gallery. It is a great day for them. I see a former Ceann Comhairle, Mr. Rory O'Hanlon, in the Gallery. It is wonderful to see new politics working because new politics is good politics. The one thing about Seanad Éireann is that, more so than even the Lower House, Members engage in good politics and come together on important issues a lot of the time. When something is right and we all regard it as right, it is done.