Victor Boyhan (Independent)

I thank Bridget Doody, our former Clerk Assistant. What an extraordinary public servant. What a wonderful personality. What a diligent person. She always supported Seanad Éireann and Senators of all parties and none. I do not know what I can say but I think we have lost a wonderful, loyal colleague and an immense friend. I know it was very hard for Bridget to say goodbye here, and I understand that, because she built personal relationships. I always say that in politics everything is about relationships and connection. If you are not a decent person and cannot be trusted, you are basically not collegiate with your colleagues and you turn off the key. I wish Bridget well. No doubt she will be looking in here at some stage. I hope that we will have an opportunity to celebrate Martin Groves and Bridget Doody for their commitment and support to us in doing our work in this democratic Parliament.

I now turn to congratulate Martin Hughes. I have observed him over a number of years and worked with him in different ways. We have collaborated and chatted formally and informally up and down the stairs in Leinster House about how we could do things better, particularly in relation to the Oireachtas joint committees. In Martin, we have an exceptionally diligent person who has clearly been elevated very quickly since he came here in 2017.He has gone and worked in the private sector and proved himself well there. He has taken third level and further education. He is a very befitting, loyal and professional colleague. I have no doubt he will excel. My only fear is I do not think he will stay here too long if his trajectory continues the way it is. I genuinely wish him every success. I hope it will not be too long before we have our Clerk Assistant.

I again ask the Leader of this House for a debate about one-off rural housing. I spent a whole day at the ploughing championships, as did many other people and leaders of all parties. Again and again, the issue that keeps coming up is why have we not got change. We are years waiting; I could paste the walls down there with letters from Ministers saying it is coming in a few weeks. Let us deliver on a commitment to rural communities. All of us will have opportunities to walk in and out of the homesteads of people in rural Ireland in the run-up to the presidential election. We will be asked questions over it. We need to be equipped to say what the Government is doing. We do not have to be at odds. Let us deliver a clear message on what we intend in terms of our support and commitments for young families who wish to live in rural parts of this country.