I share in sending best wishes for the Christmas season, particularly to the Cathaoirleach who has been most fair to everybody on this side of the House. We all agree that he has been exemplary in his work. I am being genuine when I say this.

I concur with the Leader, Senator Maurice Cummins, in sending best wishes to all of the staff. I say the same to him and the leader of our Opposition group, Senator Darragh O'Brien, as well as to our secretaries, the Clerk of the Seanad, Ms Deirdre Lane, the assistant clerk, Ms Jody Blake, and Ms Aisling Hart, who all do excellent work. The Cathaoirleach knows that when one is in the Chair as an Acting Chairman, they all give such good advice because of their knowledge and experience. I, therefore, share the Leader's sentiments. Please forgive me for going on, but I am one of the longest serving Members of the House. I also extend good wishes to the stenographers and sound engineers who do a wonderful job. In terms of its quality and excellence, the reporting is unbelievable. Lacking details of locations and townlands, the reporters put everything into legible form. To them I say, "Well done."

It is only when one is out of the Houses that one realises the value of the staff. There was a period when I was not a Member but the staff still displayed a level of respect towards me that was exemplary. People think that we are shown respect because we are Members. However, the staff of the Houses show respect to everyone else, including former Members, visitors, schoolchildren, etc. This is a great Parliament and we should be very proud of it.

In appointing 11 extremely competent Independent Senators, the Taoiseach has done the House a great service. Those Senators, of their own volition, took a particular action yesterday. I commend all of them for the decision they made. People have to do their jobs and vote in a certain way. What happened yesterday showed the strength of this House. It also illustrated the fact that the Taoiseach had the strength of character to appoint 11 people without attaching any preconditions to their membership of the Seanad, such as stipulating that they should vote in favour of Government legislation. Those to whom I refer have done themselves proud and I am sure they will vote with the Government when it suits them to do so. One of the 11 Senators actually voted for the first time yesterday. He had other serious national commitments but he still came in and voted.

Without embarrassing my colleagues in the Labour Party, Senator Heffernan is a very courageous young man. I was with Jim Kemmy in 1982-----

The Senator should not refer to individuals. He should confine himself to the Order of Business.

Some 30 years ago I walked through the lobbies in the Dáil with the late Jim Kemmy who lost his seat as a result of what happened at that time. Mr. Kemmy was a very strong individual and he had a great personality.

I take the opportunity to second Senator Darragh O'Brien's proposal in respect of the Order of Business.

There is no need for the Senator to second it.

Senator Leyden has his Christmas tie on. He made the effort.

Does Senator Leyden have a question for the Leader?

I have a good question for the Leader. I ask that he use his influence to encourage the Minister for Justice and Equality to approve the release, for humanitarian reasons, of a certain prisoner at Christmas. Everyone knows to whom I am referring and I will not name him. The Leader should make contact with the Minister and the governor of the relevant prison in respect of this matter. We would all be very happy if the man in question were released during the Christmas period.