Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is great to see some of the candidates who contested the European Parliament elections here. I thank them. It is not easy to compete in elections. I also thank the 949 people elected to our local councils. Anyone who puts their name forward to compete in an election is to be admired. It is not an easy task. I congratulate all the participants. I offer thanks to those who did not succeed. In the past few days, I had the difficult task to contact about 19 - only 19 - Independents who stood to be re-elected and did not get elected. It is devastating because it defines their political career and their standing in community whether they like it or not. It does hurt. We are all human and we are impacted by words and reactions, but that is democracy. Let us not forget the people who put themselves forward for election at this difficult time for them and for their families. They may be asking questions of what they did wrong or what they should have done. Sometimes they did nothing wrong; that is just the nature of this business.

I want to thank a great colleague and friend Martin Murray who has worked here for many years. Martin is really a politician of all type. We never came in this gate into this hall without talking to Martin. I knew of Martin as a visitor here but I also knew of Martin because he worked with great colleagues of mine in the Irish Press. Martin tells great stories of the demise of the Irish Press and, of course, his relationship with the Oireachtas and some of our great leaders here and how he got this job. He had his ears to the ground. His feet were always on the ground. He communicated with people in many ways. We will greatly miss Martin for his gems and nuggets of information and how he dealt with us and supported us in our work. He is one of many here, but he has been exceptionally good at what he has done. He is always on the ball in terms of politics. I wish him all happiness and success in what he decides to do.

I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, and the Leader for organising to have the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, to come to talk to us later. As the Leader will know from her campaign, a just transition is a major issue. Our farmers, growers, foresters and fishers need to see the benefits of just transition. They will be the topics I will be raising with the former Uachtarán na hÉireann this afternoon. That will be my focus. I am looking forward to listening to what she has to say. Given her powerful role as an ambassador on the world stage, I also want to send some clear messages and signals that our Irish farmers, fishers, growers and foresters need support with just transition. I would welcome a debate in the coming weeks on the practicalities of just transition on the ground for our communities.