Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thought I missed the boat. I was at another meeting online. I am really happy that I am able to contribute.I thank every Senator from the administrative panel. I am aware that the Cathaoirleach's name is precluded from being officially on the motion, but I do not doubt that he would be the first to sign it, if he was not in his position. Equally, it is great to see Senators O'Loughlin and Ahearn, and everybody else involved on the administrative panel, putting it forward, and it is the correct panel to do so.

I rise as somebody who was a councillor for 12 and a half years. Indeed, I and the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, were chair and vice-chair of the HSE forum for south Dublin and mid-Leinster for a period of time. We worked well together. No Minister could have as indepth a knowledge of the work involved in being a councillor, and of being a young councillor with a young family. If I am correct, I believe it was December 2015 when the Minister of State, who was then a councillor, rang me to tell me that his wife was just about to have a baby and asking if I could cover the chair for December. He subsequently called to see if I could cover the chair for February due to an election, and on a further occasion because he had been elected. Then I got elected.