I received a letter from the Department of the Taoiseach, dated 7 January, which states:
I wish to inform you that the Taoiseach, acting on the joint recommendation of the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister for the Public Service, has appointed Mr. Kieran Coughlan, Clerk Assistant of Seanad Éireann, to the position of Clerk Assistant of Dáil Éireann with effect from 7 January 1987.
I have no doubt that our loss here in the Seanad is the Dáil gain. There is not much we can do other than say of Mr. Coughlan that we wish him well, we wish him luck and we will certainly miss him. Personally, I will miss him because he was more than helpful to me. I have no doubt he was more than helpful to every Senator in this House. I know that on numerous occasions he brought home work with him and worked late at night in order to have it up to date and to be ready for the following day's sitting. All I can say is the best of health and the best of luck to him. We will miss him sadly.