I thank the Cathaoirleach. I stand here today to announce that after 36 years, I will be resigning from Seanad Éireann. Following the Order of Business, I will formally submit my letter of resignation to An Cathaoirleach, Senator Buttimer. Before I do so, I will take this opportunity to thank a number of people who have helped me along the way. I will first mention my great friend, the incomparable Miriam Gordon Smith. That applause is richly deserved. I would also like to mention my election agent and friend over …

Hear, hear.

I learned it from you.

Hear, hear.

Thank you very much, Michael.

With your father.

Hear, hear.

I formally second the Bill.

Thank you.

I appreciate that. I have come to Seanad Éireann to raise the question of cluster bombs. This is particularly appropriate since the Convention on Cluster Munitions, effectively banning them, was signed in Dublin in May 2008. Figures in 2018 show that more than 21,000 people have been either killed or injured by these vicious weapons. A large percentage of these people were children, and this is the especially vicious, filthy and nasty thing about cluster bombs. When they break up in mid-air, the cluster bombs land …

He was a decent man.

Yes, I do.

The tobacco lobby has been absolutely disgraceful. It knew about the link between lung cancer and smoking and suppressed it. It had that knowledge, which should have been publicly available. That industry is an absolute and utter disgrace. It was in it for the money and nothing else.

I am sorry not to have been in the House much recently but my cancer has come back and is in my lung. However, that has not stopped me enjoying life thoroughly, particularly on a beautiful day like this. I commend Senator Warfield strongly on his initiative in putting this motion before the House. It is an excellent thing to have done. I had not realised it was 30 years. I am not good on anniversaries as I do not think backwards. Rather, I tend to think forward in life. I would like to recognise, as others have don…

It is my privilege today to preside over the orderly transfer of power. We have always been fortunate in the calibre of Cathaoirligh of Seanad Éireann. Over my 30 or more years in the Seanad, I can bear witness to this fact. Senator Mark Daly has been exemplary - gentlemanly, courteous and impartial in his rulings. I shall have the opportunity to speak briefly about the other candidates put forward for this office later on. I now have the pleasure of asking the Leader to propose the fixing of a date for the electio…

Is that agreed? Agreed. I will now accept a proposer and seconder for any motion in respect of the election of the Cathaoirleach.

Is there a seconder?

Before I call on a seconder, I understand the Leader of the House wishes to say a few words.

I thank the Leader for those eloquent and fitting words in tribute to Senator Buttimer. Are there any other speakers?

Is there a seconder?