Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call our esteemed Leader, Senator Buttimer, to outline the business of the day, I would like to make a brief but very important announcement. It is an historic occasion for this Seanad. I wish to announce formally for the information of the House that, on my recommendation, which is a great honour and privilege for me as Cathaoirleach, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission today appointed Mr. Martin Groves as Clerk of Seanad Éireann in accordance with the Staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Act 1959, as amended, so we have a new Clerk. I wish Martin, on a personal level, the very best. He is very professional. He has been acting Clerk for approximately two and a half years and I hope that he will in some way emulate the longevity of his predecessor, who I think was Clerk for 24 years and Clerk Assistant prior to that for about five years. He has a hard act to follow, but I do wish him well. Some people have been complaining, and rightly so, that we had no official Clerk of the Seanad, and that Martin was acting Clerk for some months. The shortage of staff in that regard took from the impetus of the work we are trying to do. It is a great day for Martin and his family and I hope he enjoys it.

At this juncture and without further ado, I will ask our Leader, Senator Buttimer, to outline the business of the day.