I join colleagues in sending my sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of Brendan Grace and Noel Whelan. In recent years, Noel was a great support and showed me a huge amount of kindness and encouragement right back to 2015 when he contacted me about my two daughters and a campaign video they did for the same-sex marriage referendum. We had numerous communications subsequently. He also facilitated some of the most memorable occasions I have had in the past few years when I visited Wexford. The memories are quite surreal. Funnily enough, one of them relates to a lunch with Brendan Grace. I am sure Brendan Grace would have some sort of dark joke about the fact that I sat down with him and Noel Whelan for dinner this time last year. It was lovely to be able to sit in their company and it is lovely to remember them that way. When I met Brendan last year, I was immediately attracted to the good-natured boldness in him. I wish we had got to know each other a lot more, but it was a pleasure to sit and have dinner with Noel and Brendan together last year. It is a nice memory and it was my privilege to know two Irish icons in different areas, one in music and comedy and the other in the political and democratic realm. I send my condolences to each of their families, especially Brendan's son-in-law, who has also been in contact with me in recent days. He was not only a son-in-law to Brendan but an extremely close friend to him. The two of them were inseparable last year in Wexford and they seemed to really look after each other. I will be thinking today of Frank, who texted me this morning to say that Brendan had admired my strength and determination in life. That was a really nice thing to hear from such a wonderful man.

Did the Senator greet them with her fist salute?

Like others here, I wish to speak about the passing of two great people. I got to know Noel Whelan after I was first elected to this House. He made contact with me in 2011 and we discussed many things. I subsequently met him on numerous occasions. I always admired him because he went into politics, he stood for Fianna Fáil and it did not work out but he was not afraid of expressing his views, regardless of whether people agreed with him. He did so in the most articulate way imaginable, especially during the marriage equality referendum campaign and that relating to the eighth amendment, on which he took a very particular stance and was not afraid or shy about putting his case forward. I did not know Brendan Grace but I do know he spent an awful lot of time in County Clare. He purchased a pub in Killaloe. I know many people who knew him well and who speak extremely fondly of him. He spent many nights in the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point as an entertainer and as a guest. I understand that he was there very recently. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse. We pass on our sympathies to their families and wish them well in dealing with their grief.

Since this is the final Order of Business before the summer recess, it is appropriate that we thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, the Cathaoirleach, the Clerk, Martin Groves, the Clerk Assistant, Bridget Doody, and all the team in the Seanad Office who ensure that this House runs smoothly. It is also appropriate that we thank the rest of the staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I refer to the ushers and the support staff in the various sections, including the canteen, the Library, the Bills Office and so on. If it were not for them, the House would not be able to function. I hope they have an enjoyable, relaxing summer. There are lots of activities in County Clare. If they wish to visit us, they would be very welcome.