Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Is mór an onóir dom a bheith tofa mar Leas-Chathaoirleach inniu. Táim ag súil go mór le bheith ag obair leis an gCathaoirleach ar bhonn éifeachtach agus cothrom chun gnó an Tí Uachtaraigh a riaradh go héifeachtach agus go cothrom. Gabhaim fíorbhuíochas leis an Seanadóir Conway a mhol mé agus leis an Seanadóir Wilson a thacaigh leis an moladh.

It is a great honour and privilege for me to be elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann. I look forward to working with the Cathaoirleach to ensure the fair and effective running of this very important Upper House of the Oireachtas. I thank Senator Warfield for putting his name forward. It is apt that on this day in 2010, Seanad Éireann discussed Second Stage of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009, which was the stepping stone towards marriage equality. After taking a journey as a country, two members of the LGBT community can now stand for election as Leas-Chathaoirleach of this House. That says a lot about us as a country and about the institutions of the Oireachtas. I thank Senator Warfield for that.

When I entered this House in 2007, little did I think that 13 years later I would stand for, and be elected as, Leas-Chathaoirleach. I am sure the former Senator, Pat Moylan, is looking on today, smiling and noting how far I have travelled, as has the Cathaoirleach. It is important to remember those who have gone before us, including both those who have served with us and who are still living and those who have gone to their eternal reward. We thank them for their service.

I thank Senator Conway, a very good friend of mine, and Senator Wilson, an equally good friend of mine, for their very kind words on my proposal and seconding today. I had to check the mirror to see who they were talking about. I particularly thank Senator Wilson for not telling certain stories. If he had privilege, so do I. I am sure we could regale Members of the House.

I am conscious today of the footsteps in which we all follow. My immediate predecessor, the former Senator, Paul Coghlan, is in the House. Like many others, I thank him for his service as a Member of the Oireachtas and as a public representative. We have always looked up to him and admired him for his collegiality, his friendship, his ability to reach out and, more importantly, his pride in the institutions of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I thank the former Cathaoirleach, Senator O'Donovan, for his leadership and my good friend, Senator Burke, who was our predecessor, having served both as Leas-Chathaoirleach and Cathaoirleach. I also acknowledge a mentor and great friend of mine, the former Senator, Denis Cregan, who, more than any other Member of the Oireachtas, played a key role in my election to public life.

I am humbled to be joined today by my husband, who is in the Public Gallery. Those elected to and involved in public life understand the great sacrifices our family members make. I thank him for his support, encouragement, dedication to my life as a politician, and constructive words. We have a new Government. We are a mixed marriage as regards politics but I am thankful that I have converted him from most of his bad habits. I thank him most sincerely. I am also conscious that my dad is looking on today.I thank my father for his great ability to teach us all at home about the importance of serving, service and equality in what we all want from our communities and political parties.

I will be brief because we have had a very long Order of Business. Today, I would like to put on record my appreciation to my former Deputy Leader, Catherine Noone, former Government Chief Whip, Gabrielle McFadden, and former Senator Maria Byrne, in the last Seanad for their tremendous support and dedication. They were wonderful Members of the last Seanad. We had a very positive contribution last week about former Senator Ian Marshall. I also wish to put on record my thanks to former Senators Marie-Louise O'Donnell, Billy Lawless, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Colette Kelleher and John Dolan, who brought great insight and perspectives in the last Seanad. I hope that the new Members in this Seanad can equally be as powerful as they were.

A Chathaoirligh, Seanad Éireann has a very serious constitutional role. All of us are committed to this House and its work and I hope that we can bring a collaborative approach, as we did in the last Seanad. We had some differences, as Senator Ó Donnghaile noted, but we managed to bring them together and worked for the betterment of one another. I assure the Cathaoirleach that I will work with him and with all Members of the House to ensure its fair and smooth running. My role is to serve the Members and to deputise for the Cathaoirleach. I thank the House for their trust and appreciate the support of my party leader in putting me forward for the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach. Go raibh maith agaibh.