Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

Before I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business, as you all know our great friend and Clerk of the Seanad, Martin Groves, and the assistant clerk, Bridget Doody, retired over the summer. They let us know in their notification to us that they will miss us dearly in their retirement. I want to thank them sincerely on behalf of Seanad Éireann for their great service to Seanad Éireann and the roles they occupied, their professionalism and the incredible knowledge they had on the workings of the Oireachtas and the legislative process and their great advice to all Senators down through the years and decades in relation to the Houses, especially for new Members. I wish Bridget and Martin health and happiness in their retirement. Of course, Bridget being from Kerry, there is the famous phrase from one of the editors of the newspapers in Kerry that a day out of Kerry is a day wasted. Bridget now gets to spend all of her time in Kerry. We look forward to meeting her down in the Kingdom.

I also want to congratulate another Martin - Martin Hughes - on his impending appointment by the commission. He will be formally appointed as soon as is practical. Martin has served in the Oireachtas since 2017. He has been a committee clerk since 2019, clerk to the Committee of Public Accounts from 2020 to 2022, clerk of the Working Group of Committee Cathaoirligh and a temporary clerk to the Dáil. He has been in nine committees, including finance, public accounts and housing, local government and heritage. With that level of knowledge and experience, we expect and know Martin will be an exemplary Clerk to Seanad Éireann. We wish you all the best. We know you and the team around you will continue the great work that was done by Martin and Bridget. On behalf of Seanad Éireann, comhghairdeas to Martin and welcome to Seanad Éireann.