Seanad debates

Friday, 16 December 2022

11:30 am

Photo of Pauline O'ReillyPauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Senator Buttimer is one of us, regardless of who "us" is, which is possibly the best thing that can be said about somebody. Now that he has taken the Chair, I know he will perform the role in an unbiased way. I would not trust everybody to do the job fairly but I trust Senator Buttimer to do so and I really look forward to working with him.

I also want to pay tribute to the former Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, who also has a vivaciousness about him, as described by Senator Joe O'Reilly. I have got to know Senator Daly very well, having worked with him on the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, CPPO, over the last couple of years, and on Seanad 100, alongside Senator Boyhan. We have been chaired exceptionally well over the last couple of years. I also pay tribute to Ms Grace Coyle. She is a large part of the force behind Senator Daly and I am sure he would say that himself. On a recent trip to the US, Senator Daly and Ms Coyle very generously invited me and Senator Cassells to join them at the White House and that is something that I will take with me.

I will thank another couple of people in the time remaining. As the Cathaoirleach said, I am stepping down as the leader of the Green Party group in the Seanad and handing over to the amazing Senator Garvey. It has been a privilege to serve as the leader for the last couple of years. We made a decision that we would swap over at the same time as the two main parties swapped over and that is right, fair and proper. I have worked with Senators Doherty and Chambers and it has been an honour to do so. I will continue to do that. Indeed, we have a joint Bill on which Senator Doherty has done a huge amount of work and I am looking forward to it getting through the Houses.It is also really appropriate for me to say a few words about my clansman and friend, Senator Joe O'Reilly, because we got to know each other very well over the past couple of years. We found each other - O'Reilly's - in the Seanad and will remain firm friends because the Senator does his people, our people, proud.

I will say a few words about Senator Garvey, who will take over from me as leader of the Green Party group. During my term as leader of the Green Party group, I also became chair of the party. As chair, I can say that we are delighted to have Senator Garvey running for us in Clare but also being a strong force and a strong rural voice. Regardless of where we are, that voice has remained strong. As leader, I know she will do us proud. It is appropriate that we have those rural voices, particularly from the Green Party, in positions of leadership. That is what we will see over the next couple of years. I will let Senator Garvey take it from here. I congratulate her and look forward to working with her.

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