Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

For those, I thank him for helping me to get over my shyness very quickly.

I want to thank the outgoing Senators and, in particular, my good friend, Senator Buttimer, who mentioned me earlier and identified the fact there are two Senator Dalys. Senator Buttimer was a brilliant leader and I compliment him. I know what he said was in jest but I thank him for weaning me off the line I was on of demanding the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine come to the House. I can assure Senator Buttimer's successor, who I congratulate, that I will not be pursuing that line in the coming term.

I will not list all those who were with us the last time and who are not here today but I thank my good friend and fellow county person, the Government Whip in the last Seanad, Gabrielle McFadden, who is not here today. She was a good Whip and a very good colleague on Westmeath County Council and in the Seanad. On the Fine Gael side, I wish to acknowledge my very good friend, the Leas-Chathaoirleach in the last Seanad, Paul Coghlan, who is not here with us. I acknowledge and compliment the outgoing Cathaoirleach, Senator Denis O'Donovan, a very good friend of mine. We are on the same panel and we have managed to remain good friends, which is unique. The fact we were such good friends, although we ran against each other in the election, demonstrated his impartiality as Cathaoirleach and how easy it was to get on with him.

I acknowledge Senator Diarmuid Wilson, who contested the position of Cathaoirleach of the Seanad in our party this morning. I welcome on board and wish the best of luck to our new leader, Senator Lisa Chambers, and compliment Senator Catherine Ardagh, the outgoing leader.

The Cathaoirleach has been elevated now, so I hope the media, depending on the occasion, will include the word "Cathaoirleach" and that I will also be given credit. With a bit of luck, when there are positives, they might still say Senator Daly and I will gain some glory from that. I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and note that it is a big day and a good day for him, his family, his parish, his party and, indeed, an aimn O'Dálaigh.