Before announcing the Order of Business, I welcome back our colleagues, Senator Magner and Senator Bohan, who have returned from the Russian elections. It is an indication of the growing interdependence of democracies that people from our Parliament were present to help ensure that democratic standards were maintained in the Russian elections. We should be very pleased that our colleagues made the sacrifice to do this work.
This is the last sitting day of the year and, on behalf of the House, I thank the staff of the House for their work during the past year. It has probably been the most difficult year, certainly of recent years, for the Seanad. We lost two of our most beloved Members during the past year, which was a major shock.
It has also been a year in which the Seanad has done a great deal of very good and useful work, and has been in the forefront of a number of major debates. I pay tribute to the staff of the House, the secretariat, the reporting staff and the press. Even if we do not always get the coverage we believe is our due, this is certainly not the fault of the people who cover this House on a regular basis; we are all very grateful for their accuracy and the fairness with which they cover events.
I also thank the ushers and those who make the working of this House possible. In particular, I thank the Opposition parties for the co-operation which has characterised everything they did during the year. We have had our difficulties and disagreements, as is natural in politics, nonetheless there has been a good spirit of co-operation and generosity for which I am extremely grateful. On behalf of the House, I wish all staff and Members a very happy Christmas and I look forward to seeing people back here early in the New Year.
I may have exhausted all the good wishes by the time I have finished detailing today's Order of Business which is items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Item 1 will be taken without debate.
