I welcome Senator Hackett to the Seanad. I hope she has a fruitful and enjoyable time here, as did her predecessor, Grace O'Sullivan. We look forward to working with her.

I, too, extend my condolences to Kathleen, Crona, Suzy, the wider Byrne family and the very many friends of Gay Byrne. Many tributes have been paid to Gay over the past 24 hours. His easy manner and unique tone of voice will long be remembered throughout the households of this State. For me, coming from County Mayo, one of the moments of note captured over the past 24 hours was his famous interview that led to Mr. Tom Gilmartin speaking out. Mr. Gilmartin was the man who brought down a Taoiseach and exposed the greed and corruption in this country. Gay Byrne and his easy style of interviewing brought that to the fore.

That was a matter for the findings and the relevant report. Senator McDowell might correct me later but I believe some of the content of the report might have been corrected in a Supreme Court judgment. I do not believe we should be getting into tribunal reports at this stage. I understand the Senator's reference otherwise.

I acknowledge what the Leas-Chathaoirleach is saying. What I am trying to get across is Gay Byrne's style of interviewing people, the way he dealt with issues-----

Absolutely.

-----and the way in which he made people feel at ease when interviewing them.

That is undoubted.

He played a very significant part at a very important time in this country, a time of transition in many areas. He will be missed by his family in the main. I extend my condolences to it. May his soul rest in peace.