In case I forget to do so later, I thank all of the staff of the House and across the Oireachtas for their help during the past 12 months. It was an election period and many Members did not know the procedures and the staff's assistance was a great help. I welcome all of the new Senators and hope that in some small way I have been of assistance to them. I thank all of the older and more experienced people here who helped me during the past year. I particularly thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Chathaoirleach, even though I tried to get their jobs but failed. The Cathaoirleach has been very fair to me, as has Senator Paul Coghlan when he has been in the Chair.

I particularly single out the Leader, Senator Jerry Buttimer, who has been fair to Members across the House. Without naming any other Member in that position, I found that when I raised a matter and pursued it a little with the Leader, I received a very good response. That is what we are about here, namely, trying to get work done and helping people.

I wish to raise two issues. This time last year we were dealing with the full force of flooding across the country. We had submerged pumps which had been installed as part of the flood relief project and system, but they failed. There was a lack of pumps across the south east. At one stage I had to call my brother-in-law to bring a pump to me from County Laois. I ask the Leader to ensure we will be winter ready in that respect. I did not get an opportunity to speak during the statements on flooding last week, as some Members who were in the House at the time may know. I ask the Leader to write to the Minister responsible on that issue to see if it has been resolved.

The second issue concerns the horse racing industry, on which we were to have a debate before the end of the year. I will use an analogy I do not like to make. When I see Tesco, SuperValu, Dunnes, Aldi and Lidl dominate the ads during whatever television programme I might be watching and I see the racing ads citing that Gordon Elliott had a five-timer and Willie Mullins a six-timer - I am a racing man - I hope the racing industry will not go the way of the retail industry because it is the small man who I love to see winning a race.

This morning I wrote to the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, representing the other group of people with whom I am friendly and who are also our constituents. We received commitments that before the end of 2017 some improvements would be made to the terms and conditions of councillors, but we have not seen it happen. Santa is not coming for another five days. Therefore, there is plenty of time to do this. I ask the Leader to take up that specific issue today and write to the Minister with responsibility for the environment and local government about it.

I hope everybody will have a great Christmas.

I am very concerned that the National Transport Authority's rail review recommends the dropping of direct services on the Kerry-Dublin route. Over 500,000 journeys were made on the Tralee-Dublin route last year. Tralee is seen as a strong regional centre and the route does particularly does well during the summer months and why would it not with Killarney on it? The tourism season has been extended and it is extending all the time, with more and more people using rail services. I strongly believe County Kerry does not deserve to be disadvantaged whatsoever in this way. I also say this in the national interest. Others will have concerns about recommendations made in the report regarding other parts of the country. This issue is worthy of debate in the new year. Perhaps the Leader might schedule such a debate at a convenient time in due course.

Like previous speakers, I wish the Cathaoirleach, all of the staff and all Members a very happy Christmas. I look forward to being back in the new year, if not in this Chamber, in some other place that has been mentioned. Please God, it will be suitable. God bless.