I join the leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad in paying tribute to the outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny. Deputy Kenny served the country well. He and I were elected to the Dáil in 1977. The date of the election was 16 June-----

That is right.

-----and the Government was formed shortly afterwards. I had the great pleasure of voting for Mr. Jack Lynch - honest Jack - and Deputy Kenny voted for Mr. Liam Cosgrave. Of course, Jack won on the day.

Fianna Fáil bought that election, did it not?

I am very pleased to have been here to see many new taoisigh, probably ten or more. There will now be an 11th tomorrow.

I wish Deputy Leo Varadkar every success as well. Many people in this Seanad await with anticipation or look forward to the possibility of being appointed to Cabinet by him just like Senator James Dooge was given a ministerial appointment by Garrett FitzGerald, and was very successful. Garrett FitzGerald also made Senator Alexis FitzGerald a special adviser, which was a rather strange move at the time. Sin scéal eile.

Enda will remain a very active Deputy until the next election and he will continue to serve the constituency of Mayo with great distinction as he has done since 1975. I know it was 1975 because I was involved in the by-election campaign by Michael Joe McGreal who, as far as I can recall, was a Fianna Fáil candidate. Some of my colleagues here will probably confirm the details.

The Senator is going well.

I want to wish the Taoiseach's wife Fionnuala and their three children well. He has a wonderful family. Fionnuala worked for the best educator of all - Charles J. Haughey.

Who?

Fionnuala was a marvellous press secretary. Yes, dear. The Senator will have her say.

I urge the Senator to address the Chair.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell is one of the best promoted. Mind, she was duly rewarded for her loyalty.

As was the Senator-----

Well done.

I urge the Senator to address the Chair.

-----considering people were boiling water for 20 years in Senator Leyden's constituency.

Very few have been given such recognition by any Taoiseach at any time.

I urge the Senator to address the Chair.

A geographical constituency.

Fionnuala-----

I call on the Senator to please conclude.

No.

Fionnuala was one of the press officers ever in this State. She certainly did the State some service and she certainly was of great help to Fianna Fáil as she has been to the Taoiseach since their marriage.

Today is a special day for the Kenny family. It is great to see that Enda decided to leave on his own terms because he would not have been ousted. I wish to make it quite clear that if he had decided to stay he would have stayed until the end whether one liked it or not. There was a point made that half the parliamentary party was against it.

I call Senator Joe O'Reilly.

They are normally the most loyal of all.

The Senator has given us a history lesson.

Finally, I urge Leo Varadkar to heed the experience of Theresa May and not go for an early election.

I call Senator Joe O'Reilly, please.