Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke about an event which took place in the Michael Davitts Gaelic Athletic Club last weekend and I thank him for bringing it to all of our attention. I continue to wish them well in their endeavours.

Senator Boyhan mentioned this morning that the Future of Media Commission report has gone to the Cabinet and he acknowledged that quality journalism, as I believe we will all agree, has to be supported, whether that is at a national or local level. We need a debate on the report in September and a conversation around the VAT that is charged on newspapers.

Senator Buttimer welcomed the Defence Forces announcements and how steady and solid a foundation it is for growth of that sector, with an increase in man and woman power in our Defence Forces. He would like to thank all of the people by our actions, I suppose, which is how he wants us to be measured. He acknowledged our good friend and colleague, Gabrielle McFadden, and her advocacy here over the years for the Defence Forces.

Senator Chambers opened today the Order of Business debate today, not only by mentioning the Defence Forces and her advocacy on that front for the past number of years, and by welcoming the increase in its budget to €1.5 billion, but invited us all to her policy, which is the launch of the Fianna Fáil policy on women today. I am very mindful of the amount of work that she has put in on its behalf and in her organisation of it, with of all her colleagues. I welcome any scrutiny and support she can get, in being responsible for the first political party to have a female health policy. It certainly puts in all our minds that we all should probably do the same.

As this will be my final Order of Business debate this week, I thank colleagues for what has been an incredible year. We have debated without much division, thankfully, but with major policy differences on issues, in a very respectful way and I believe that that is what makes the Seanad very different to the Upper House, or rather to the Lower House, my apologies.