Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to the outgoing Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Joe O'Reilly, a true friend. As always, he is on the same floor and he has given so much guidance to someone who was so new.Senator Joe O'Reilly has both expertise and wisdom. It is a real honour to know him and I cherish the fact that we have become good friends. As Senator Murphy has said, Senator O'Reilly has very close ties to Roscommon, particularly to the Tully family. When he was elected to the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad, it meant much to his family and to all of those who know and respect him. He brought a lot of wit and wisdom to the office, as was said earlier. I have learned much from his eloquence in the Chair and from the way that he engages with people.

I wish our soon-to-be brand-new Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, well in his new role. He has done a great deal for women in this House, even just from the perspective of the approximately 200 photographs in the Women in the Seanad exhibition. It is incredible to think that in the space of a couple of years, we have been able to acknowledge the role of women, including through the portrait acknowledging the role of women that sat behind the Leader at the start of the Order of Business. That portrait is now going to have pride of place elsewhere. He has also ensured that portraits of all of the women who served as Senators are on public display. He has done so much on that issue and on the Seanad 100 commemorations. I look forward to working with him as Leas-Chathaoirleach.