THE need for a continued Northern input into Seanad debates was emphasised by members on all sides who praised the contributions made by Mr Sam McAughtry (Ind).
Stressing the importance of enabling people from both sides of the divide in the North to articulate their concerns, several senators maintained that this could help in the search for a resolution of the current difficulties there.
Mr McAughtry later made it clear that he would not seek reelection to the House, but he would be prepared to accept a nomination to it by the next Taoiseach.
Mr Willie Farrell (FE) paid tribute to the Northern Ireland members who, be said, over the last 10 years had given their southern colleagues a greater insight into the problems affecting that part of the island.
Making what could be his last speech in the upper house, Mr McAughtry said his experience there over the last 15 months had been one of the high points of his life. He said Northern Ireland used to have a government which had been discredited for a number of reasons but the one good thing that could be said for it was that, under the Unionist government, ministers were accessible.
In the south, every minister was accessible and that was true democracy. Three quarters of a century had elapsed since the achievement of independence in the south. "You have grown apart from us in the north of Ireland. But I have had the bridge between us with the Border colleagues here who speak with the kind of voice that I use."
Mr McAughtry said he hoped the future would hold better prospects for the north of Ireland under the British government and this enlightened country here".
He had admiration for the way those on opposing sides cooperated in the House. He hoped that in Northern Ireland they would end up with democracy of the kind people had in the south.
The lath Seanad took its place in history yesterday in the absence of most of its members.
Only 17 of the 60 Upper House parliamentarians were present for the start of business on the last day. Most of the 32 senators standing for election to the Dail were otherwise engaged.