I endorse what my colleague, Senator van Turnhout, said about Jimmy Walsh. Again, I am a new Senator but I acknowledge his journalistic ability, particularly his ability to put in one sentence what it takes Senators 50 sentences to say. He has created an art form in itself.

Today is World Theatre Day, a day that Ireland can be proud to support. It was established in 1961. I ask the Leader to support my call to all Members to salute the many actors, playwrights, designers and technicians throughout Ireland who have contributed to Ireland's reputation through their craft and vocation of making and presenting theatre across Ireland and the world. Theatre is more than 2,000 years old, yet it continues to be supported by audiences and communities across the nation. It is a tough time for our actors and writers as they try to make a living, like other citizens, and to survive and contribute to society through their important medium. I ask all Members today to go and see a professional production by any Irish theatre company over the next few weeks to support our theatre artists.

I have just come from a briefing given by Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour, which was arranged by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. He is president of the Palestinian Theatre League and founder of Al Rowwad, a theatre company in Palestine. He works in his native land of Palestine, which is occupied by Israel, and has no designated official nationality. He works with young people and theatre and calls it a beautiful resistance. It shows how theatre and arts can continue to be important in telling stories and bearing witness across the world.

I remind Senators that our motion this afternoon is about philanthropy and fund-raising. It is an important motion and I hope all Senators will contribute to the debate. There is a major conference today in Dublin on fund-raising, with over 300 people in attendance. I note that the Cabinet has accepted a proposal from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, that new rules to encourage philanthropy should be considered. Can the Leader elaborate on this before we debate the motion this afternoon?

Out of respect for the Chair and given the time constraints, I will park an issue I intended to raise and take this opportunity to commend and congratulate Jimmy Walsh. I have known him for many years and I count him as a colleague. As a journalist for 30 years, I am only in the penny ha'penny place compared to Jimmy, who has 52 years on the clock. One would not think that to look at him or meet him or when one sees his sharpness of intellect, his level of energy and his commitment and compassion in the job he holds. One does not see that in many jobs. I do not think Jimmy will mind me saying that he is probably old school. I say that in the best sense of those words. I have always looked up to him and the standards of fairness, honesty and accuracy he upheld. While we know that Jimmy is a highly opinionated and, perhaps, sometimes argumentative man, there was never an occasion when he worked with The Irish Press or The Irish Times that it filtered into his copy or was reflected in any type of bias or spin. However, one learns something new every day in this Seanad and I am a little taken aback to learn that he has been acting behind my back as a type of spin doctor to some of the Taoiseach's nominees. That is a revelation that I will take up with him at a later stage.

Jimmy is also unique and peculiar, perhaps in society but especially as a journalist, in not having a mobile phone. However, he manages to survive in the jungle that modern journalism has become and still has not missed a deadline or a story of any note.

Or read one of the Senator's tweets.

Indeed. I am certain Jimmy has a good book in him, if not a great book and bestseller, but knowing the calibre and integrity of the man, it will not be a kiss and tell book.

I cannot let the opportunity pass to say a few words about Jimmy Walsh also. As I have been a Member of the House for 20 years, I am very experienced in terms of knowledge and I have always been impressed by his ability to be able to remember and jot down so succinctly exactly what was said, sometimes in a mumble and occasionally very loudly. One could meet him in the corridor afterwards and ask him exactly what somebody had said because he knew it and had written it down and memorised it. I was impressed when I heard so many wish him well for the future. I hope he will be well. I had not realised until yesterday how fit he is, when I heard some of the stories about his ability to both jog and run very fast. He walks for two hours every morning before coming to work here. He makes a show of the rest of us. Long may he live and have the same energy and commitment he has shown in the last 52 years. I cannot believe it is that long.

Four years ago I introduced a Bill on organ donation. Will the Leader check if that Bill could be reintroduced now? We stopped the debate with two minutes to go because the then Minister said she wished to consult about it. By the end of that year the Bill had been dropped and we have not heard anything since. That is four, if not five, years ago. It would be great if we could do something about it. It deals with the opt out system. In other words, unless one opts out it is assumed that one is willing to have one's organs donated to save lives. I believe the reintroduction of that Bill is worthy of consideration. I ask the Leader for his advice on it. Perhaps he would check with the Minister to see whether that would be the right way to proceed.

I congratulate the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on appointing Mr. Christoph Mueller as chairman of An Post.

This is a brilliant and worthy move. Mr. Mueller is clearly a very successful business person and he obtained a vast amount of experience in the relevant area before he came to Ireland. He is an exemplary individual and the perfect man for the job. I hope he succeeds.