Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I express my gratitude to Martin, Bridget and all the staff for the great work they do and for their graciousness and courtesy at all times. I also thank the ushers of the House for how helpful they are to us as we do our work. I had the privilege of working closely with the staff of the House when I was Leas-Chathaoirleach and I can testify to their absolute professionalism and helpfulness. My colleague Senator Seery Kearney wanted to also express her gratitude to the staff of the House and just missed doing it, so she asked me to convey her thanks too.

We in this country should be very conscious that we have an unblemished democracy. We have a democracy where the secrecy of the ballot is sacrosanct. We have a very good working democracy. For that reason, it is a great jewel or pearl. Some of the things delineated by Senator Gavan and others emphasises that. I appeal, through this House, insofar as this gets coverage locally or nationally, for people to use that franchise in the coming weeks, engage with the issues and vote. We should be proud to have a democracy that does that.

Finally I ask the Leader impress on the caretaker Government, including the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, and the officials in their respective Departments - the permanent government - to keep the conflict in the Middle East centre stage as there is a change of Administration in America to see what we can do to end the genocide, bring peace and get a settlement. We are a small voice on the worldwide stage but we are an important voice morally and otherwise. It behoves us in the midst of what is appalling, vile and completely alien to the human condition – the murder that is going on there – to get it ended by any means or, at a minimum, to be a voice for it ending.