Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the four Members of the House for their contribution to this extraordinary Order of Business. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Government, I thank all members of staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas for facilitating today's sitting and for their presence and work. I acknowledge the gargantuan, supreme efforts of all our public and civil servants, those who work in our shops and keep our supply chain going and those who are working on the front line in our health system. We acknowledge and remember those people particularly today. We remember also the people who have lost their lives thus far in this pandemic, which, as many Members have said, has transformed our lives perhaps forever. On behalf of myself and the Government, I express our sympathies to the families of the loved ones who have died and thank all the very many people who have listened to the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, who has done great work, on socialising, self-distancing and, more importantly, taking this absolutely seriously.

I again thank the Members of the House for their co-operation thus far and thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for your courtesy in advance of today's proceedings. It is important, as Senator Boyhan said, that we as Members of the Upper House take seriously our role and our duty under the Constitution. The Senator is correct: that is our job and our duty. That is what we are doing. This sitting is not a hurrah; it is us fulfilling our duty under the Constitution. I know we will do that. Ní neart go cur le chéile.