Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As this is the last Order of Business before the local and European elections next week, I am sure the Acting Leader will join with me in wishing the best to all candidates in both the local and European elections. It takes a certain amount of courage, bravery and even foolhardiness to put your name forward. I want to wish every candidate the very best of luck but also to say a particular thanks to those whose names are not on the ballot paper, those who go out and put up the posters, knock on the doors, drive people around and do all the hard work. They are the unsung heroes because sometimes we do not fully appreciate in our democracy how important those foot soldiers are in ensuring that we have the vibrant and rich democracy we have in Ireland. Long may we cherish and protect it. To all of those, may they gain some enjoyment, whether they are successful or not, over the course of the final days of this campaign.

I would also like to welcome back to Leinster House Newstalk's political correspondent Seán Defoe. Many people will know Seán as a very fair and balanced journalist. He spoke with a lot of courage and honesty on Newstalk yesterday about testicular cancer and what he has been going through. I think it sends out a very important message to all of us men to check ourselves out. This is something that can happen to young men like Seán as well. I think it is important that we thank him for being able to speak so honestly about what he has gone through but to also say that he is very welcome back here to Leinster House.