Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A Chomhsheanadóirí, a Thánaiste, a Airí, a Theachtaí Dála, agus a dhaoine uaisle uilig, i dtús báire ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas ó chroí a dhéanamh le Seanadóir Buttimer as a bheith tofa mar Chathaoirleach. Is onóir faoi leith é agus tá sé tuillte aige. Níl amhras orm ach go ndéanfaidh sé jab den chéad scoth agus go mbeidh sé thar bharr mar Chathaoirleach. Tá an-áthas orm a bheith ábalta na focail sin a rá leis. Chomh maith le sin, ba mhaith mo chomhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Seanadóir Boyhan as ucht bheith ina iarrthóir iontach maith agus stuama. Rinne sé an-jab agus mo chomhghairdeas leis as sin.

I congratulate Senator Buttimer on his election as Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. He will embrace the important aspects of that office. He will be fair, which is critical for a start, and inclusive. Everything about his life experience and everything he articulates and says convinces me that inclusivity, pluralism, diversity and the involvement of everyone, which are central to his core beliefs, will be reflected in the way he chairs the House. It is not just about Standing Orders. There is more too it than that and Senator Buttimer understands that, which is important. He will bring a reforming zeal to the Seanad and use his acute intelligence and imagination to broaden out the role and work at it. He was an excellent Leader of the Seanad and an excellent chairman of Oireachtas committees. As a colleague in the Dáil previously, he was an excellent advocate for his people in that Chamber too. He brings to the office the requisite qualities, ability and personal integrity and the breadth of vision that comes from his life experience.

It was wonderful to see the father of the House, Senator Norris, here. He performed in such an admirable way, as he always does. Today has to be such a proud day for him on so many levels. He was a mould breaker. He is the great exemplar of the capacity of this House to break moulds, transcend, go beyond and go the distance.

I pay a heartfelt tribute to Senator Buttimer's predecessor, Senator Mark Daly. I had the privilege of working closely with him and can say that he pushed out the boundaries. He worked extremely hard in the role. He did a wonderful job on Seanad 100, Seanad na nÓg, the European dimension and so many other facets of the work, including reaching agreement with the Oireachtas committee with regard to the scrutiny of European legislation. All of that is part of the reform of the Seanad and the Senator embraced that and pushed those boundaries out. Senator Buttimer will have to continue in the same vein.

On a lighter note, Senator Daly rang me last night. He has a lovely lilting Kerry accent and a very good way on the phone. He said, "Did you get that letter in Joe?". I pretended for a while that I did not know what he was talking about. I think he had a slight interest in that letter going in. Certainly the afternoon's proceedings would suggest that he had more than a passing interest. He has a very persuasive way and he was making sure that the letter went in.

I will take the opportunity later, when we have elected a new Leas-Chathaoirleach, to pay tribute to the staff of the Seanad and others. Mar fhocail scoir, tá sé soiléir ó na focail sa ráiteas a thug sé níos luaithe go bhfuil aige meas aige don teanga agus ar oidhreacht na tíre seo. Tá sé sin soiléir ón ráiteas. Molaim dó an meas sin a chur i bhfeidhm i rith na bliana, an Ghaeilge a úsáid agus na comhghleacaithe go léir a spreagadh agus a mholadh chun giota beag Gaeilge a labhairt gach lá.