Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Míle buíochas a uachtaráin. I thank Mr. McCarthy for his thought-provoking address, setting us some challenges and posing many questions. At this juncture, I welcome to the Public Gallery Mr. Marty Morrissey from RTÉ who has just joined us. I also welcome Deputies Paul Kehoe and Noel Grealish.

I should have put on record earlier that my friendship with the uachtarán’s son, as well as members of staff in Croke Park, goes back to a time when I covered matches on local radio with both Cian and Alan, for which I thank them. The uachtarán mentioned volunteerism. The chair of the Munster Council, Ger Ryan, is here with us. He is a professional in his own world but he gives tirelessly as an amateur volunteer. I thank him on behalf of all of us for the work that he does. Míle buíochas.

This is the hard part of the proceedings. We have to limit Members to four minutes each. I will try to be generous.