Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I again congratulate the Cathaoirleach. I will speak briefly about two gentlemen who I like and will continue to like and admire a lot: Senators Joe O'Reilly and Mark Daly.

Senator Joe O'Reilly and I got to know each other very well over recent years. He is one of the most intelligent and eloquent people I have ever come across, but he is also really good fun. One always ends up smiling and laughing when in a conversation with him because of his kindness and of how witty he is. We will continue to share such conversations and he will go on to do many more great things in a long and distinguished career.

I remember the first full sitting of the Seanad in the Convention Centre Dublin when Senator Mark Daly and I had a chat and discussed climate action. One of the things we both wanted to do was to make sure young people came into this Chamber and, by God, he achieved that during his term. Young people came into this Chamber to speak not only about climate action but also about many other matters that are important to them.The Senator invited the climate committee to use this Chamber and to make sure that young people could have their say when it comes to climate action. It is almost like a snowball effect in that the good thing he did has led to many more good things. Mark's ambition knows no bounds. I know that will continue to be the case when he becomes Leas-Chathaoirleach. I was only remarking to Grace Coyle that the job will probably be no easier now than when he was Cathaoirleach because of the amount he will achieve.

One thing the Senator has put front and centre is women in politics. He has made sure that we have proper representation for women and that we changed the pictures on the walls of Leinster House to ensure that more women are recognised. I thank him sincerely for that. I thank Senators Mark Daly and Joe O'Reilly. I look forward to the next two and a half years.