I welcome the visitors to the Gallery.

Yesterday, I raised the issue of the Irish expeditionary team that was very close to the summit of Mount Everest and had, the previous night, made an attempt. I am glad to report, as others may have seen, that the Irish team reached the summit overnight. The team included Mayo man and former footballer, Pádraig O'Hora, along with Eanna McGowan from Dublin and Adam Sweeney from Waterford, along with the leadership of their team leader, Jason Black. It is an incredible achievement. It is the first time in over 20 years that an Irish team has stood on the summit of Mount Everest. It entailed a huge amount of training and discipline, and a lot of highs and lows and trials and tribulations along the way. I ask for the support of the House in congratulating the team on this amazing feat. Mr. O'Hora was raising much-needed funds for Mayo Mental Health, an organisation that is close to my heart. Many people across Mayo have benefited from the services it offers. It is an incredible achievement that should be recognised. I congratulate them and wish them a safe descent down the mountain and back home to Ireland, where they should get a great welcome for their achievement.

I join the Senator in congratulating them for getting to the summit of the highest mountain in the world. That is quite an achievement. When Sir Edmund Hillary made it to the top, he was asked why he did it, and he said, "Because it is there." That was his explanation for climbing the mountain and putting himself and everybody else at risk by trying to get to the top. Why did he climb it? "Because it is there", he said.