Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, wish everybody in the House a happy Christmas. I thank Martin, Bridget and all the staff here for making me feel so welcome over the past six months. I say to all my colleagues in the Seanad that I have enjoyed my time here over the past six months. The work is certainly challenging. These have been the most challenging of times for us all. One can hear the pain felt this morning by Senators Casey and Crowe and all those in business at this time. We have to be a little kinder in how we deal with people in business. We are talking about businesses but also livelihoods and families.

I pay tribute to the thousands of volunteers we have in the country. They are the unsung heroes who volunteer week in, week out, whether it be Meals on Wheels, Tidy Towns associations or whatever they are doing to make life better in their own communities. I want to take the time to acknowledge them this morning and wish each and every one of them, and each and every Member, a happy Christmas.