Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am thrilled for the Cathaoirleach. He is deserving of the position to which he has been elevated. I welcome his husband Conchobar and his family, friends, nieces and nephews. It is great to see his party colleagues, the Tánaiste and ministerial colleagues, Deputies and of course, all the Seanadóirí as well.

Having got to know him over many years - the last term and this term - I have no doubt that he will do a fantastic job as Chair. He is passionate about Cork and even more passionate about his party, Fine Gael. He is sometimes tribal but I find that quite endearing. Maybe I would say that. It is that passion he brings to the job and his role as a Senator that I know he will carry into his role as Cathaoirleach of this House.

I also commend Senator Boyhan on having a contest and ensuring there was a vote in this House. That is important. I take on board the comments made by some Senators around how that process works. Perhaps we will revisit that at some point in the future.

This is an important day for the Cathaoirleach. It is a big day. To be Cathaoirleach of the Seanad is a huge honour and privilege. Very few people have sat or will sit in that Chair in which he sits today and we should never forget that. Very few people will get the opportunity to sit in this House. It is a huge privilege and honour and we carry that responsibility, privilege and honour on our shoulders every day when we represent the people of this country and do our job as parliamentarians, legislators and policymakers. It is a huge honour to have a seat in this House. Every time I drive through the gates of Leinster House, I think about how great it is just to be here and I know all Members share that same passion for the role.

I also pay tribute to our outgoing Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly. As has been said by many Members, he stretched the boundaries of the role of Cathaoirleach. I am sure it was a challenge for the Oireachtas and the Seanad Office to deal with the pace of the changes that were being sought. There were times when I could not keep up with the new initiatives and projects that Senator Daly was coming to us with, which shows the tenacity and work ethic he brought to that role, and working with Ms Grace Coyle in the office because, as always, it is a team effort. One person is the face of the operation but there is a huge team behind the scenes in terms of the people who work with you and your family and community. Senator Mark Daly did an incredible job. I have no doubt Senator Buttimer will put his stamp on the role of Cathaoirleach and will do the same fantastic job in the next two and a half years ahead.

I have not yet had an opportunity to talk about the transition. I acknowledge that Senator Doherty and I will be swapping roles in or around tomorrow. The process has not been done previously in terms in the level of change at Government level and within the Seanad. It has been fantastic to work with Senator Doherty over the past two and a half years. The House is very fortunate to have somebody with the level of experience of Senator Doherty to take over the reins at the time she did. Throw our minds back to two and a half years ago; we had nowhere to sit. We were a brand-new Seanad and dealing with extreme restrictions across our country. People were tense and scared. This was pre-vaccine. It was a different world. Senator Doherty led the Seanad through an incredibly challenging time, kept us all together and made sure we did find a place to sit and get our business done, which was not easy. I saw what she had to deal with during that period and I am not sure I would have handled it as well without the level of experience she brought to that role. I have had the benefit of being able to learn from her during the past two and a half years and the benefit of having time to get to know everybody else as well and understand what the role means, what is required and what will be required of me in taking over that job. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Senator Doherty and the Green Party. We worked very well with Senator Pauline O'Reilly and I am sure we will do the same with Senator Garvey. Senator Boyhan said it was a partnership over the past two and a half years. It was and will continue to be that.

I thank all the Senators, particularly the Fianna Fáil Senators for working with me as group leader. It has been an honour and privilege to have been given the opportunity to do that job. I thank my deputy leader Senator O'Loughlin and the most important job in the entire group, our Whip, Senator Gallagher. Senator Gallagher and Senator Kyne, who was Government Whip for the past two and a half years, will rotate as well. They have an extremely challenging and difficult job that requires all hands on deck. I thank Senator Gallagher for all his work.

I will finish by wishing the Cathaoirleach the very best of luck. I look forward to working with him from the Leader's office and to ensuring a smooth transition over the weekend at the end of this year and kicking off our new term in January. Comhghairdeas - enjoy this day. It is a very special day and congratulations.