Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I promise I will be very brief. I appreciate there is other business to be attended to before the day is out. I start by congratulating the Cathaoirleach on his elevation to the role of Chair. I know he will bring sheer passion to that role. I remember in the previous term I was at the receiving end of that passion on many occasions. It is a very proud day for the Cathaoirleach and all his family. Good days like this do not come every week, as well he knows. As soon as the good days come, the bad days also come, so it is important that when the good days come, we squeeze every last ounce out of them. I am sure that, over the Christmas period, the Cathaoirleach will reflect on what he has achieved and will feel rightly proud. I wish him every success.

Senator Boyhan had the courage to put his name forward and make a competition of it. I salute him for that and I congratulate those who voted for him as well. Beidh lá eile, I have no doubt. His ship will sail again.

What can I say to the former Cathaoirleach, Senator Daly, that has not been said already by many others? While many talk about reforming this House, Mark went about just doing it. The initiatives he introduced he did with vigour and professionalism. He can be very proud of the two and a half years he has spent in that Chair. He has left a legacy that I have no doubt will be followed by the Cathaoirleach. I know Senator Daly will be the first to say that, with regard to the pace at which he worked in the office, nothing would have been achieved except for those around him and for Martin Groves and Bridget Doody and the team that had to keep pace with him. I am sure they are looking forward to the Christmas break to recharge the batteries. I want to say "Well done" to Senator Daly and continued success, whatever the future may bring.

Then there is the Leader. I did not know Senator Doherty well until I was elected to the House. One thing that always comes to mind with her is that anything Senator Doherty has to say, she will say it through the front door. There is no back door with Senator Doherty and that is a great quality. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with her over the past two and a half years and I look forward to continuing to do so.

I thank my party’s leader in the Seanad, Senator Chambers, for the professional manner in which she has conducted her business. I have no doubt she will be as successful in the role as Senator Doherty has been in recent years.

Senator Pauline O’Reilly has stepped down or aside from her position for now. I thank her for her professionalism, courtesy and friendship over recent years. She was a pleasure to deal with in a very calm and sensitive way. I wish her well. I do not know if the word "calm" is apt for Senator Garvey, who replaces her.