Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I would like to be associated with the warm congratulatory remarks. I offer the heartiest of congratulations to the Cathaoirleach and extend my best wishes to all of those leaving their posts, including Senator Mark Daly but also Senator Doherty who will pass on her position to a wonderful replacement in Senator Chambers. I recognise the work she has been done in pushing the boundaries. She has been a breath of fresh air. Despite the obvious strictures applying to the position as leader of the Government in the House, she did not let that hold her back. I hope and I am confident that we will get more of that under the leadership of Senator Chambers.

I had the privilege of being at college with the Cathaoirleach. We had many illustrious past pupils, from the former Tánaiste John P. Wilson, to John Hume and Michael O'Kennedy and, in more recent times, Mary O'Rourke and Mary Hanafin. However, a younger group of contemporaries all gathered at the same time at that college. I am thinking of Brian Hayes, Deputy Catherine Martin, Deputy Joe McHugh, Senator Diarmuid Wilson and many others.