Election of the Cathaoirleach to the Seanad
Wednesday, 25 May 2011

The House is fortunate to have Senator Paddy Burke in the Chair. We were elected to the Seanad on the same occasion a little more than 18 years ago and I have admired the way he handled his responsibilities as Leas-Chathaoirleach over those years.

A former American president advocated speaking softly while carrying a big stick. The Cathaoirleach has a little stick but I am sure he will be able to make us behave ourselves when we attempt to convince others to change their minds or get the Government of the day to accept the amendments we propose. I have learned over the years I have served in this House that it is possible to convince others by force of argument. There is a great sense of achievement when that happens. Laws have been amended and improved because of the debates held in this House. It is our task to ensure the Oireachtas is as healthy as it can be. Whether it means change, reform or abolition we must make sure that we play our part in arguing that case.

The Cathaoirleach has big shoes to fill. I recall the five or six Cathaoirligh of the Seanad since we entered this House and the jobs they have done. As far as I could see they all seemed to have been from the west - or the vast majority of them. The new Senators also have shoes to fill. In his wonderful speech earlier Senator Norris spoke about some of those who were Members in the past but in my time here one of the first people I met and who became a Member on the same day as me was the late Mr. Gordon Wilson, a representative from the North. Since then we have had Dr. Maurice Hayes, another representative from the North. Mr. T.K. Whitaker, originally from Rostrevor, County Down, and who came in last month and had dinner with some of us, was also a Member of this House. We have the shoes to fill of those who have done a good job in the past.

I read a quote recently which states: “In a society that values its philosophers more than its plumbers, then neither its ideas nor its pipes will hold water”. It is a lovely quote and I am reminded of it because that is the diversity of this House. That is what has made this House. It is not just three or four political parties. It is a House of 60 Members with ideas, thoughts and inputs of their own.

I have been impressed by the work done here in the past. I am even more impressed today listening to some of the new speakers. We will have a lively Seanad. It is a Seanad that will earn its keep because that is what we must do. We must earn the respect of this nation which will say that it needs a Seanad. We need something that can achieve what it set out to achieve.

I wish to quote a man I admire who stated: “Whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can’t, you’re right”. I believe we can. That is the message we must get across in this nation. In fact, I believe we will. If we in this House believe in ourselves, we can achieve all we want to achieve. We can make this the Ireland we all wish for.

I am delighted the Cathaoirleach is here. I am honoured to have you and I know you will perform and make this House one of which we will be proud.
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]