Tribute to Hon. W E Teare MHK and thanks for parliamentary service The President: William Edward Teare – and it sounds a bit like I am about to pass a sentence (Laughter) – better known as Eddie, came here having had almost a full working lifetime in banking. He came here in 2004, at a by-election in Ayre, in succession to Edgar Quine, and despite the initial disadvantage of sitting next to me and next to David Cannan on the back bench, went on, despite early attempts at indoctrination, to greater things. I think it was in DHSS, when I was Minister, you joined and it was your first Government post, in charge of Social Security – and, my word, your financial acumen became very apparent then. You went on to fight successfully elections in 2006 and 2011, serving during all your time here variously as DHSS Minister until 2010, as Education Minister from then until 2011, and of course since then as Treasury Minister. You were also Chairman of the MEA at a very critical time, when you put in, unpaid, very long hours and helped turn that body around. You have been known, I think, as a prodigious worker of long hours, and Steady Eddie has been your nickname, but certainly within the business community you have earned terrific respect, as you have done internationally in the way you have presented the Isle of Man, not least to finance ministers at very important gatherings. You have also, sadly, paid somewhat of a price for being in public life, with Irene your wife, with the appalling anonymous threats that were made. Justice at least has been done on that score, but we must always remember, Hon. Members, all of us are subject too often to anonymous comment and misplaced comment 24/7 by the modern phenomenon that is social media. Freedom of speech is a very special privilege and is not something that should be abused in a way that makes people suffer, particularly personally, and those of us who venture into public life and politics would make a plea for greater understanding by those who would resort to anonymous comment, and particularly when it leads to distressing threats. So, Eddie, as you leave for retirement with Irene, our best wishes and thanks for all you have done. [Members applauded] Tynwald 21/07/2016 .