I was pursuing Senator Fitzpatrick because I thought she would be interested in what I have to say, but I think she is gone. I am going to talk about the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin in her neck of the woods. For the Members who do not know, in this House stands one of the most magnificent oil paintings. It is of John Foster, the Speaker of the House of the Irish Parliament in 1790. He was the man who granted the Dublin Society, now the Royal Dublin Society, the consent to establish a public botanic garden. The gardens were eventually established in Glasnevin in 1795. The painting of John Foster holding the map hangs on a wall in Leinster House. Members might have a look at it if they have time before they leave for the day.

It is particularly relevant. Most people do not know that the map that is in front is actually the map of this great site at Glasnevin. I raise this very important issue to give thanks to Dr. Matthew Jebb, the director of the National Botanic Gardens, who has retired. He is a long-standing significant individual. I congratulate the new appointee, Dr. Noeleen Smyth. It is the first time a woman has been appointed as director of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, renowned as perhaps one of the best botanic gardens in the world. It ranks second to Kew in London. It is an amazing garden. Dr. Smyth will take up residence in the magnificent house in the centre of that wonderful estate. She will also have charge of Kilmacurragh Estate, County Wicklow, on behalf of the State and of course the magnificent John F Kennedy Arboretum in County Wexford. I wish Dr. Smyth well as she leaves the UCD school of agriculture and food science to take up this prestigious role. She brings enormous experience in horticulture, agricultural science and botany. It is a good appointment so I wish her well and of course I wanted to put Dr. Matthew Jebb on the record of this House.

The parallel and the significance with the Irish Speaker in 1790 and the fact that we have the portrait of the first Botanic Gardens site here in this House is a nice and significant link. I will finish by saying, what a magnificent day today is. I urge whoever in these Houses has an opportunity, or people listening in, to go and visit this magnificent botanical oasis that is free to go into. It is an amazing place. We do not go there enough and I commend everyone to it.