Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group as leader, I extend a very warm céad míle fáilte to those Senators re-elected, elected for the first time and, of course, those nominated. It is a singular honour to be a Member of this House, as Senator Wilson has pointed out. It is lovely that family members have been able to come here and join us for our first sitting day. Like many of us, I was first elected to this House during the Covid-19 pandemic five years ago, when we did not have the opportunity to have our families present. I extend a very warm welcome to all of the family members who are here. I want to single out my two brothers, Brian and Cathal, who are here representing the lilywhite brethren, along with Senator Aubrey McCarthy, who is a new Kildare Senator.

It is a great honour to nominate Senator Mark Daly for the role of Cathaoirleach. Senator Daly has served previously as Cathaoirleach of this great House with distinction and great aplomb at home and abroad. It is our contention that he would make an excellent Cathaoirleach. He would work collaboratively and respectfully across parties. This is certainly the way the Fianna Fáil group would like to start this five-year term. We want to work with everybody across the House in that manner. With that in mind, I nominate Senator Daly for the position of Cathaoirleach.