Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to second the nomination of Senator Mark Daly. One word I would use to sum up his campaign for the Cathaoirleach's position and his campaigns in many Seanad elections is "tenacity". The first time I encountered Mark, I was a Deputy. He arrived in my home town of Bantry, which is only through the tunnel and over the mountain from Neidín, or Kenmare. We sat down together and I discovered that he was not a county councillor. I told him that I wished him all the best, but that even for a young man, it was most unusual for a non-councillor to take on the mammoth task of travelling the country to win a seat on the Administrative panel. He surprised me then, and he has even surprised me today.

I wish Mark well. I am sure he will bring a new flair to the Chair of the Seanad. He is young and dynamic and has a different approach than old fellows like me. I am very happy to second Mark's nomination and to wish his family well. His father, Sean, is here, as are his brother, Conor, and his mother, Eileen, from Kenmare.

As a young boy, I went to my first Munster final in Killarney at ten years of age. More often than not, we would come back from Killarney - usually bumming a lift on the back of a truck or whatever - and have to put up with the chagrin of defeat as we came through Kilgarvan and Kenmare until we got back to Glengarriff where we sought refuge on the Cork side of the tunnel after the usual kicking that we got from Kerry. Some of the games were tight, but more often than not, we had our tails between our legs.

Our local situation is extraordinary. Neidín, Bantry and Glengarriff are close to one another and are in adjoining constituencies. When going to or coming back from Killarney, not only do we have Mark, who will shortly be the Cathaoirleach, in his native Neidín, where I am sure the people will be very proud of him, but 5 miles or 6 miles farther along the road is the kingdom of the Healy-Raes. From listening to the Ceann Comhairle on Saturday, I believe they have set up a new party. One then moves on to the real kingdom of Killarney.

This morning, I spoke to some of the staff of Leinster House. Most of them are Dubliners, which is understandable. I told them to beware because they could be facing a three-in-a-row. Deputy Norma Foley was appointed Minister for Education last Saturday, and I wish her and her family good luck. Now, Mark Daly will become Cathaoirleach and the staff could see the Sam Maguire heading back to Kerry next December. Dublin and its six-in-a-row could be put on the back burner.

I wish to take this opportunity as the outgoing Cathaoirleach to thank the Clerk, Mr. Martin Groves, his assistant, Ms Bridget Doody, all the staff of the House, including Ms Aisling Hart, who was very patient and kind to me, my secretary, Ms Sheena Bourke, and all the ushers, the Captain of the Guard, the Superintendent and other staff of Leinster House who made me so welcome and feel so important as Cathaoirleach of the Seanad for the past four years. I respect that.

We are in an extraordinary situation. We are in the middle of the Covid pandemic. Let no one present be fooled into thinking that it is all over and done with. We have suppressed the disease, but we have not overcome it. We must always be vigilant of it until such time as a cure can be found, which does not seem to be in the offing at the moment.I welcome all the new Senators from my party, from Fine Gael, from the Independent benches and from Sinn Féin. It is a huge honour for Senators, including those who were nominated by the Taoiseach on Saturday night, to serve in this illustrious Chamber. It is an exciting day for all the new people and all the people who have returned. When I lost my Dáil seat in 2007, I was happy to find refuge here. I decided I would make it my home, and so far so good. I wish everybody well. I do not want to prolong the proceedings.

I am proud as a west Cork man adjacent to Kerry, and as a Munster man, to second the nomination of Senator Mark Daly. I wish him luck. Politics is uncertain, as I know too well having fought seven Dáil elections, six Seanad elections and a number of council elections. My race is run, but Senator Daly's is just starting. I have absolutely no doubt that over the course of the next two, three, four and possibly five years, he will put his own stamp of authority on the Chair you are currently sitting in, Senator Norris. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.