Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am almost the last speaker, so many of my points have been made already, but I do want to make them briefly again. I pay tribute to and congratulate former Senator, now Deputy, Ivana Bacik, with whom I worked quite closely in the previous Seanad, particularly when I was involved in some of the group leaders' and whips' meetings. She was an excellent contributor to this House and I do not doubt that she will be an excellent contributor to the Dáil. She will enter this Chamber this afternoon for the first time as a Deputy.

I also pay tribute to Dr. Seán McCarthy, who was a Member of this House between 1989 and 1992. He was also a former Minister, Deputy, and long-established councillor for many years in Tipperary. He was an expert medical doctor and was regarded in his field. I know his daughter, Maria, who lives quite close to me. I pay tribute to him and pass on my condolences and sympathies to all his friends and family in Tipperary, the wider Fianna Fáil family and, indeed, throughout the country.

Like Senator Fitzpatrick, I am conscious that this might be my last Order of Business. While there may be another on Thursday, in a Covid-19 world there are restrictions as to how many of us can be here. I therefore pay particular thanks to every Member of this House and the other House for re-electing me in Seanad by-election. It would be remiss of me not to mention that I got significant support right across the three Government parties and, indeed, from many others. I acknowledge all of you right across the House. You all know who you are. I know who are too, which is even more important. I thank all of you for that.

I welcome all of the progress that has taken place under Covid-19. The hospitality industry has been through so much. Let us get a date for them. Let us bring them back into the real world of hospitality as soon as we can, operating for our benefit and for theirs. I wish everybody a very good break over the summer. I thank Martin Groves, all his staff, and the Cathaoirleach for the welcome I got when I came back.