Along with my colleagues I want to thank the staff of the House, Martin, Bridget and the team, who have been very welcoming since the first day I arrived here last April. I wish all my colleagues a safe, peaceful and happy Christmas.

Senator Casey alluded to the hospitality sector. Generations of my family have been in the hospitality sector in Galway. What is happening at the moment is frightening. Major issues are arising with regard to mental health and the well-being and livelihoods of families. I want to raise two issues with the Leader. First, all of this needs to be looked at in a more regional format. Thankfully, the figures in Galway are very low as they are in other counties. As alluded to by Senator Currie, there are major challenges in other counties on the Border but a more regional format needs to be considered.

Second, next week is Christmas week. With the way the hospitality sector works, having respect for staff and families, it would be closed on Christmas Eve and possibly part of St. Stephen's Day. We need to send a clear message to the hospitality sector by Tuesday at the very latest. I was talking to a man this morning who employs more than 300 people in the sector in Galway. In his four or five outlets he would have stock the value of which would be in the region of a six-figure sum. We have to be clear on the issue of orders. In respect of all orders that would have had to go in yesterday for supply in ten days' time across the food sector, I would ask for notice and certainty to be given. Every Member is correct that personal responsibility is important. It is also the responsibility of licence holders and hoteliers. I believe they are doing all they can do but it is crucial that we get notice and certainty at the earliest opportunity, possibly by Monday of next week or, at the very latest, on Tuesday because this is doing untold damage.

I thank the Cathaoirleach also and wish each and every Member a happy and safe Christmas.

I, too, wish everybody in the House a happy Christmas. I thank Martin, Bridget and all the staff here for making me feel so welcome over the past six months. I say to all my colleagues in the Seanad that I have enjoyed my time here over the past six months. The work is certainly challenging. These have been the most challenging of times for us all. One can hear the pain felt this morning by Senators Casey and Crowe and all those in business at this time. We have to be a little kinder in how we deal with people in business. We are talking about businesses but also livelihoods and families.

I pay tribute to the thousands of volunteers we have in the country. They are the unsung heroes who volunteer week in, week out, whether it be Meals on Wheels, Tidy Towns associations or whatever they are doing to make life better in their own communities. I want to take the time to acknowledge them this morning and wish each and every one of them, and each and every Member, a happy Christmas.