I join my colleagues in calling for the Seanad Chamber to be used by the Joint Committee on Health and Children during its discussion of the forthcoming legislation on abortion. In agreeing with what Senator Mullen has said, we should not allow the fact that we are not scheduled to sit until the middle of January to prevent us from doing so. If a meeting needs to be held we should hold it, including today, if necessary.

I wish the Cathaoirleach, the Clerk and the Clerk Assistant, the Leader, the leaders of all the groups and the Whips - especially the Government Chief Whip and his deputy Whip - a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Amnesia is a debilitating disease but political amnesia is the worst of all. A number of Members on the other side of the House should look into their own souls before commenting publicly on what public interest directors of banks or former Government Members did in the past.

Before I call the Leader, I join my colleagues in wishing everybody a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. I pay tribute to the Leas-Chathaoirleach and all the Acting Chairmen for doing a wonderful job throughout the year. I thank the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the leaders of the groups and the Whips for a very good year. I also thank the ushers for the great courtesy they show, the reporting staff who do a wonderful job, as has been outlined, the sound staff, who do a magnificent job, the media, including in particular Jimmy Walsh for reporting the House everyday and "Oireachtas Report", on which the Seanad gets a mention from week to week, and the library staff who provide great expertise and backup to Members. I thank the Clerk of the Seanad, Deirdre Lane, and the Clerk Assistant, Jody Blake, my secretary, Aisling Hart, and Debbie Canning, Rachel Breen and Karen Warren. I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous New year.