I agree with and echo the words of previous Senators, in particular on today's launch of the Covid-19 tracking app. It will be a vital tool in keeping people safe. One of the glaring issues about the Covid-19 crisis, and preceding crises, has been the merit in the assertion that we work best when we work collaboratively together, and when we take a united and joined-up approach. Given its presence in the programme for Government, I ask for a debate on the shared island element as soon as possible. I will not reiter…

I move: "That Senator Fintan Warfield be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach." I intend to propose that Senator Fintan Warfield be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach. I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom fáilte mhór mhaith a chur roimh ár gcara, an tiar-Sheanadóir Paul Coghlan ón ríocht, atá linn inniu. I always feel much better and more assured in my Seanad place when Senator Coghlan is in the room. It is great to have him here today. Before I speak to our motion, I would like to refer to the other candidate for the position, Senator Bu…

I thank the Chair for that advice. Certainly, however, what I found most about Senator Buttimer was that as passionate and committed to the role of Leader as he was, that did not always put him against us in Sinn Féin or members of other parties. It sometimes put him up against members of his own party, so he treated us all equally in that role. I know he will bring, hopefully, that spirit of equality of treatment to the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach, should he get it, in the same way as he did as the last Leader. Ho…

Having known the previous Seanad, and certainly looking at the current Seanad, I may speak now before the vote is taken because I certainly do not want to take away from anyone's achievement thereafter. With the permission of Senator Norris, I will dedicate my remarks to my late friend Bobby Storey, who will be buried in Belfast tomorrow. We are thinking of Teresa, his partner, and all of his family. I thank Paul and Elisha for their very kind words on my nomination. I echo the tributes to the outgoing Cathaoirleac…

The Cathaoirleach just pipped me to the post.

Not today. As the Cathaoirleach said, many of us have come a long way and we have waited a long few months to get back to the Seanad Chamber and into our roles. As I said to the Cathaoirleach just before the vote, he has big shoes to fill but I know he will do so effectively and very willingly. The Sinn Féin team and I will work with him as collaboratively and as positively as possible to ensure an assertive, effective and representative Seanad. As the Cathaoirleach has rightly acknowledged, this is a crucial perio…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus beidh mé chomh gasta agus is féidir liom. Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire as a ceapachán agus a hainmniú mar Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais. I congratulate the Minister on her appointment. Like other colleagues, I followed with great admiration her work in her previous role during a very challenging and difficult time. She served in that position with great distinction. I begin by echoing the condolences for Detective Garda Colm Horkan. I also wish to take the …

Hear, hear.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach agus leis an Chathaoirleach. Ba phribhléid é a bheith faoi cheannasaíocht, faoi stiúir, faoi threoir agus, ó am go chéile, faoi smacht acu sa Seanad seo nuair a bhí sé de dhíth. I want to extend a word of thanks to the Leas-Cathaoirleach, the Cathaoirleach and all of those mentioned by colleagues for their steadfast and valued support for us over these past four years. In many ways, we could not have done it without each and every one of those to whom I refer. We are ver…

-----but I will say it anyway. I suppose that has been my mantra since coming to this House. Sometimes I have got it right and I acknowledge and appreciate that sometimes I have got it wrong. We all need to be big enough to recognise our own failings in life, whether they are political or otherwise. It has been a great privilege to come into this institution and to be a bit of a "Nordie" nuisance, to give voice to people who, perhaps as a result of historical misconceptions, have not always featured within the conf…