Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice of gratitude to Tom Hickey as he enters the next phase in his life. He has the energy and enthusiasm to embrace many new hobbies and possibly many new roles. Tom has always been exceptionally courteous and professional and he has a special gift with the young people who have come in to see the workings of Leinster House. I have watched him deal with children and the way he was able to explain democracy was really something to behold. I wish you well and thank you very much, Tom.

At this time of Christmas, I also extend the best wishes of the Fianna Fáil team to all our colleagues in the House, all the Clerk's colleagues in the Seanad Office and all those who work behind the scenes to ensure democracy is in action every day that we sit and, indeed, on the days that we do not. I wish everyone a good holiday and peace and joy at Christmas. When we talk about Christmas we have to think of the first Christmas in Bethlehem in the West Bank, which is a place I spent a Christmas Day many years ago. As we all bear witness to what is unfolding there, which is of course a complex situation, what is not complex is the huge loss of human life. The figure is about 18,000, with 70% of those being women and children. Some 50,000 people have been injured and 85% of the population of Gaza have had to leave their homes. It is absolutely horrific. The Government and the Tánaiste have led the call for peace. When we had our own situation with Northern Ireland the US was not behind the door when it came to helping. Without the help of Bill Clinton in particular, and George Mitchell, we would not have achieved what we were able to achieve 25 years ago. There is no doubt America needs to step up the plate and use its influence over Israel. Until then, we are not going to see an end to the current conflict.

I welcome the decision by An Bord Pleanála to uphold the planning approval previously granted by Kildare County Council for the construction of a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral Diageo complex just outside Newbridge. This is going to bring 1,000 construction jobs in the interim, followed by high-level jobs. It is a huge win and vote of confidence in the commercial viability of Newbridge. RTÉ certainly did a lot of good work with the exposé it did on nuisance objections to An Bord Pleanála. I am very glad the right decision was reached.