Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Leader. It is a great honour for me coming from Ballinalee in County Longford to welcome the sixth class pupils from my own local national school, Scoil Samhthann, and their teacher, Ms McCormack, and the vice-principal, Mrs. Farrelly. I hope they enjoy their stay.

The name "Samhthann" comes from an abbess at a Christian site in our community that was founded by St. Patrick. There is a great history which goes back to there. I have to say that it was that school which gave me my grounding and learning, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the school. My three children are in the school and it is a fantastic facility with great supports. I could not praise the staff half enough, to be quite honest.

I take this opportunity to wish Mrs. Farrelly well as she is retiring in the next couple of weeks, having served - she will probably give out to me for saying this - her full term in teaching life in our school. I can remember the very first day, which I was chatting about earlier on, when she came to our school and opened our eyes to games such as basketball, rounders and various sports which we had never played before. She has been a fantastic teacher for all of the children who went through the school and one will not meet any pupil who will say anything but positive things about her.

I also wish Ms McCormack well. It has been announced in the past number of days that she will be the next deputy principal in the school and I wish her well. I thank them both for all they do for the children in my community.

I also want to wish the children very well as they go on to secondary school. They are a fantastic bunch of children and will do very well in life. I wish them well and it is an honour for me to be here and have them come to visit. I am just the second person from my community to serve in the Oireachtas, the last being the late General Seán Mac Eoin who served in Dáil Eireann for over 40 years. I hope our visitors enjoy their day.