The people know who they are. I want to use my time constructively.

I can say that some of them are present in the House. We called for a very similar policing unit and we had an extensive debate on the matter. The Cathaoirleach made a very engaging and constructive contribution - it takes up quite a lot of the debate transcript. Senator Horkan was in the Chair that day. I will not go into all of that now, but I am glad to see that there has been a bit of change. We are all entitled to change our minds. I genuinely believe that. The Minister of State is in government, but the point…

Hear, hear.

I thank Senator McGahon. Before the Minister of State replies, I would like to be very much associated with the words of congratulations to him. We all knew his capabilities and abilities when he served in this House and he chaired the Brexit committee. His portfolio is very suited to his skill set and we wish him well.

I wish the Cathaoirleach well as he takes up office. I also wish the Leader, Senator Chambers, well. We have already had her as Leader for parts of the last while. I wish them both well. They will be a formidable team and we are lucky and privileged in the Seanad to have people of their calibre. I genuinely say that and I genuinely mean that. I want to raise the issue of thalidomide. We have had engagements with various representatives from the thalidomide action group both in the Dáil and Seanad. It is a travesty …

I do not think so.

I will and I need some grass seed as well.

I thank Senator Norris. I welcome all of our guests and acknowledge the Ministers who are present. I acknowledge the presence of Senator Buttimer's husband, family and friends. I want to acknowledge the great Fine Gael support that is here and acknowledge all of the Senators. I thank the father of the House who is in the Chair. It was a great honour for me when I was first nominated, in the context of Seanad elections, by Senator David Norris and former Senator, Feargal Quinn, and Deputies Seán Barrett and Maureen …

He led this House. He elevated its status. He applied himself with energy and enthusiasm. In politics there is so much sniping at the edges so I want to say clearly here that he did a great job and whoever succeeds him will have a difficult act to follow. Again, I say to the father of the House, that it is great to see him in the Chair. Senator Norris is one of my greatest political heroes and I thank him for chairing here today.

First, I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ministers of Government, Senators and Deputies, and, of course, the bigger Oireachtas parliamentary family that is here in such numbers. I do not think I have ever seen as many people in the room. It has the sense of a carnival or a festival here today. Well done to Senator Buttimer. We have heard some really inspirational words from him today. What has always struck me about him is his ability to interweave life's experience and emoti…

He saw talent.

Hear, hear.

I will be brief. I am conscious of time. I support the motion and our previous Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly. If he is looking forward to a rest, I am certainly looking forward to a rest. I was looking at my diary this morning. I think I have been on every sub-committee he organised since he came to the House.

I do not think I have missed any of them either. I am really looking forward to the break. I will be leaving today and will not be back until 17 January. It has always been a pleasure to work with Senator Mark Daly. He is full of enthusiasm. They were not always easy times because there were challenges. When one pushes out the parameters, there will always be challenges and resistance. I greatly admire the Seanad Office staff who worked with him and were - dare I say it - under administrative pressure because they …

I note the Cathoirleach's ruling about the two minutes. I will take that time. I cannot thank the Minister of State enough. He has been a real champion of councillors. I do not just say that here today. That is the case on a whole range of fronts. It is important that is acknowledged. He was a councillor himself and therefore he has come up through the system. I genuinely thank him for that. He has worked constructively with members of all parties and none across the Houses, but also in local authorities. That is s…

Fine Gael did not elect one woman to the Seanad. That was a disappointment but, how and ever, the Taoiseach nominates 11 and the party nominates ten. I genuinely acknowledge the very substantial contribution by all of the ten women in the Seanad. That is fantastic. I like competition; it is good for politics. Hopefully, we will bring people up through local government and they will then come through, compete in the general election, then in Seanad elections and we will have a big turnover of Senators. Let us see it…

I thank the Leader for organising a moment of silence for Private Seán Rooney, which is important. I have family in Lebanon and I have been there on many occasions. I value and understand the work that is carried out there, as do many of the people in Lebanon. There are huge Irish connections there because of our relationship with Lebanon's UN peacekeeping force, so this is important. I have great respect for this House and its staff. I particularly want to thank the Clerk of the Seanad, Bridget and their team for …

Hear, hear.

I think I might go for my lunch.

I welcome the Minister of State and Mr. Terry Sheridan from the Department to the House. The amendments are clustered and I shall touch on a number of recurring issues. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Senator Fitzpatrick is another member who is present. We did our very best and worked exceptionally hard on a cross-party basis. I want to acknowledge the work done by the Chair of the committee, Deputy Steven Matthews. We did not delay proceedings and ente…