Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator McGahon. He has captured the views and thoughts of everyone. I could see from this vantage point how engaged everyone was. This has been a success beyond the wildest dreams or imaginings of myself and the Cathaoirleach, and we discussed this for some weeks. It was an unqualified success. To achieve that success, I thank the Members who attended. Some had to leave to attend other committees but spent time here. There was a huge attendance right throughout. Not only did Members attend, but they asked quality, reflective, competent questions, which I appreciate.

I want to thank our two MEPs for the way they engaged, with absolute sincerity, and for extraordinary competence demonstrated in their responses. Senator McGahon captured that. It is great that in such an important forum as the European Parliament we have people of such quality, depth and capacity. It is a serious forum. Studies have been done on this, but the impact of the decisions of the European Parliament in terms of the directives and the regulations on our lives in Ireland is phenomenal. For that reason, it is important to have competent people there, which has been displayed today.

I thank the MEPs for being here today, because there was a physical effort involved in that given the nature of their job. I thank them for their presence and I thank my colleagues. As Senator McGahon said, this has been a red letter day in the history of the Seanad. It will encourage us and we will continue with this initiative in the various areas.