When I first came across Tony, he was a community activist in the north inner city in the late 1970s. He became a member of Dublin City Council in 1979, the year after me. I was a Deputy for the constituency of Dublin Finglas but as it became clear that my political base was going to move into the new constituency of Dublin Central, I began to see more and more of Tony on a daily basis. We were both striving to do our best for people living in Dublin’s inner city communities in the early 1970s.

It would be dishonest of me to say that Tony was someone I always agreed with because he would certainly look down at me today and say that was not a fair remark. He was most definitely a politician I greatly respected. Ideologically, we may have differed on what were the best solutions but Tony was always earnest and sincere. As a long-time political rival and an admirer of his, I can offer a genuine assessment that Tony Gregory gave total commitment to his constituents and made an undoubted difference to the city he loved. Everything that has been said by everyone here this morning, beginning with the Taoiseach, is very relevant. While he will be remembered nationally for perhaps a handful of issues, the breadth of his interests, both international and domestic, was extremely wide. I attended many meetings and heard him speak in the House and I heard him express his views on all those different issues.

Deputies will appreciate that there was always much competition and rivalry between Tony and I and our respective supporters but that rivalry was never personal and I believe it benefited our constituents who gained from our eagerness to deliver for local residents. In all my years as an office holder, Tony and his friends always asked me to attend events of which they were the originators or in which they were passionately involved. I always appreciated that. Our rivalry was also the source of much banter and fun over the years in the constituency, and even beyond the constituency. Throughout the 1980s, he was the guy without the tie and I was the fella in the anorak.

Today, I want to acknowledge Tony’s unyielding efforts on behalf of our community and our constituency. He worked hard always, even during his illness. His untimely passing means Dáil Éireann has lost one of its hardest working Deputies. His constituents have lost a passionate and committed representative. He has also played an honourable part in securing progress in improving the quality of life of Dubliners, and not only in Dublin Central.

On the day he passed away I said that any economic and social history of Dublin over the past 30 years would be incomplete without reference to the determined work and strong commitment of Tony Gregory. That perhaps started with the Gregory deal but it never ended for him. He continued to passionately argue for all of those actions he believed should be done. Whenever those records are written it will surely be the case that his input is acknowledged.

Tony Gregory achieved much for Dublin and in Irish public life. I would like to mention two areas, one of which has been mentioned by almost every Member and another that has not been mentioned at all. On the drugs issue, I am aware, probably more than most, of the chances he took in leading those campaigns, and he was the leader of them. He took on some of the most vicious and ugly individuals who were part of the citizens of the great capital that Dublin was during the 1980s and into the 1990s. That was not without enormous risk, and it would be unfair if that determination was not acknowledged long after these contributions conclude.

The other was an issue he raised frequently during Taoiseach’s Question Time. In all the years I held that position, he came in here to question me about the ongoing work on the issue of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. He never let an opportunity go — the questions were normally in his name or the names of other Deputies — to raise that issue. Much of the work that took place, and the motivation to continue that work and the efforts I put in to continue it, were because he had raised the issue time again both privately and publicly, and in this House.

I will remember Tony as a man of integrity, a hard-working public representative and an all-round decent guy. While we were political rivals, with the exception of one issue that arose way back on which we differed, we were able to get on and do our work as good friends.

I extend my sympathy to his partner Annette, his brother Noel, all his family and friends, and to all his supporters both in and outside Dublin Central my deepest sympathies. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Go n-ainmneoidh Dáil Éireann an Teachta Brian Ó Comhain le bheith ceaptha ag an Uachtarán mar Thaoiseach.

I move:

That Dáil Éireann nominate Deputy Brian Cowen for appointment by the President to be Taoiseach.

Deputy Brian Cowen is immensely well qualified to undertake the duties of the office of Taoiseach. First elected to Dáil Éireann in 1984, he has been re-elected in every election since. In addition to his having extensive experience of local government, he has been a member of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body and an Opposition spokesperson on agriculture, food and forestry. He has shown ability and leadership in a succession of demanding ministerial positions, as Minister for Labour, Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Minister for Health and Children and Minister for Foreign Affairs, including a critically important role during our successful Presidency of the European Union. He has been Minister for Finance since 2004 and Tánaiste since June 2007.

Deputy Brian Cowen’s extensive experience across his ministerial career, his deep involvement with Northern Ireland and the peace process and his skilled and widely admired engagement in Europe on behalf of the European Union during our Presidency all equip him to undertake the obligations of office of Taoiseach with flair and capacity. Furthermore, as a most successful contributor to partnership Government over recent years and as one who had an active role in the negotiation of the current programme for Government, he is well placed to lead a Government that will enjoy the support, commitment and energy of all three parties, in addition to those Independent Members of the House who support our programme.

Throughout his career, Deputy Brian Cowen has been a fair-minded and straight-talking participant in the social partnership process and has all the necessary skills to lead the process towards the next stage of development in line with the needs of our economy and society. In short, I consider him to be a uniquely well qualified candidate to succeed me in the position of Taoiseach and to lead the country towards the realisation of our shared objectives and through the challenge we face in the period ahead.

Yesterday, I resigned from the office of Taoiseach by placing my resignation in the hands of the President, pursuant to the Constitution.

During my discussions with the President, I told him that while as a trading nation Ireland wants a successful conclusion to this round of WTO negotiations, we are unhappy with the unbalanced way in which the World Trade Organisation negotiations have proceeded. The Government has impressed on the Commission at every opportunity and level that it must remain within its mandate and not do anything that would damage European and Irish agriculture.

It is all too easy to forget the long struggle to create the political institutions in which we have the privilege to serve and which meet the test of public confidence and legitimacy. This is not to be taken for granted. On the contrary, we must be constantly attentive to ways of ensuring that our people understand and support the ways in which we do business on their behalf. It is for that reason, that I have been supportive of the reflections of this House on ways in which Seanad Éireann can play an even more active and strategic role in the public life of the State. In particular, I believe that the capacity of this House to engage with longer-term issues and deeper challenges than generally constitute the day-to-day business of the Lower House should be used to the full. I wish the House well in its continuing reflections on how its particular mission within the democratic process can evolve and develop in the years ahead.

The absence of democratic institutions which commanded the confidence and engagement of the population was at the heart of the devastating conflict in Northern Ireland, towards the resolution of which I have dedicated a large part of my period as Taoiseach. It was always my firm conviction that we could build a new relationship between the traditions on this island, and that we could move on in a new spirit of friendship, based on open dialogue and mutual respect.

I am glad to say that, in the past year, we have seen remarkable progress in Northern Ireland, in relations on this island and relations between these islands. This is taking a practical form through the important progress we are making in areas like transport and education, agriculture and the environment, tourism and energy. I have no doubt we can make an enduring resounding success of our all-island economy. We are committed to completing the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Executive, as we continue to implement the St. Andrews Agreement in full.

I am also pleased that North-South co-operation is developing on a very practical level through the national development plan, including joint investment in strategic projects of mutual benefit to both jurisdictions. I am especially pleased that the Government is contributing €60 million to an exciting new joint innovation fund over the next four years.

At a political level, I was honoured last week to address the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The establishment of the committee is an expression of the new political reality on this island. At that meeting, we had representatives from North and South engaging on a matter of significance for the whole island. It was regrettable but understandable that many Unionist representatives felt unable to attend. I hope that one day public representatives from all traditions will feel able to engage together on issues that affect us all. It is my belief that it makes eminent sense for all of us on this island to work together, for the benefit of all our people.

My confidence in the future is increased by events like the one to which I am looking forward on Tuesday, 6 May when together with the Northern Ireland First Minister, Dr. Paisley, I will officially open the site of the Battle of the Boyne. The opening of this new site and its impressive visitor centre will be a recognition of the significance of the battle in the history of Ireland and Europe. It is also a symbol of how far we have travelled and of our desire for reconciliation between the great traditions that share this island. Real and genuine reconciliation will enable all of us to move beyond the conflicts of the past and the legacy of history.

A more thoughtful approach to the history of conflict on this island leads us to realise that we can best understand our history in the context of wider issues and forces which operated across Europe. Long before we became one of the world’s most open trading nations, we formed part of an international network. At all stages of our history, from early trading contacts, through waves of migration across Europe, and from the early monks who set forth to preach the gospel in Europe, to the network of Irish colleges which remain part of our European heritage, Ireland and her people have been an integral part of a wider European identity. Our membership of the European Community, and the development of the institutions and policies of the Union in the context of our shared values, are the modern expression of that identity.

On 13 December 2007, I signed the reform treaty in Lisbon. The treaty is designed to enable the European Union to manage 21st century challenges which, increasingly, are global in nature — such as climate change, energy demand, cross border crime and, of course, the global economy. At the same time, the treaty rationalises the European Union’s institutional arrangements so that the Union can function in a fair, efficient and effective manner. It also brings into force the Charter of Fundamental Rights to reflect the Union’s values and to underpin the rights of the individual across the Union.

An extensive information campaign is being conducted by the Government to ensure the public are well informed in advance of the referendum. It is clearly desirable that the maximum possible number of citizens are encouraged to cast their vote. I regret that so far, part of the public debate on the reform treaty has been based on issues which are not related to the text in any credible way. An international treaty of this kind is inevitably a rather complex document but the substance to which it gives rise is clear and easily understood. I regret that some have sought to use the necessary complexity of form and language to camouflage their true feelings about Europe and the European Union, or otherwise to create mischief.

I welcome the efforts being made by the National Forum on Europe, by the political parties and by other concerned groups to ensure that the true facts are made known. I acknowledge there can be legitimate differences about policy and institutional matters affecting Europe. However, we must ensure these differences are grounded in reality and fully respect the right of the people to have accurate information and arguments put before them before they exercise their solemn duty under the Constitution. I have no doubt that the Referendum Commission will be highly professional in its mission to encourage the maximum possible number of voters to participate on the day of the referendum.

My advice to the Irish people is to maintain a clear focus on the core question of our relationship with Europe. The record since our accession is very clear; whenever we have associated ourselves with the evolution of the European project, it has worked to our benefit both economically and socially. Our European identity, apart from being rooted in history, has also been a critical element in shaping the context within which peace and reconciliation on this island have been developing since the wider European context and the Union’s engagement with countries, regions and communities has enabled us all to rethink issues that are so important to us. Ratification of the treaty will therefore provide a solemn basis for the continuation of that positive European engagement for Ireland, while enabling Europe as a Union to serve its citizens more effectively in the important and urgent areas where they look for effective support and leadership.

I have never seen any conflict or even tension between my sense of being an Irish Nationalist in the republican tradition while at the same time being a European citizen. On the contrary, I have seen the effective sovereignty of our country enhanced and deepened by our participation in Europe.

In the same way as it has benefited relations on this island, European membership and the European context have also benefited the development of a more mature and friendly engagement with our nearest neighbours. The European social model is a distinct contribution to political and social life. By contrast with the prevailing philosophy in other parts of the globe, it is a model of which we can be proud and to which we have contributed our own distinctive experience. The appropriate balance between national self-determination and collective action through pooling of sovereign authority is not just a matter of rules of subsidiarity, it is also a matter of mutual respect between the national and the European levels. The enhanced role for national parliaments provided for in the reform treaty is an important expression of that respect.

It is with the concept of respect that I wish to conclude my remarks. My respect is not just for this House as an institution but for the work which Senators undertake for the common good. I respect in particular the seriousness of purpose with which Members of this House go about their business as law makers. This is true both of those large personalities who are national figures with a deserved public profile, as well as of those whose reputations are centred on this building for the care and expertise which they bring to their work. I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, and all of the Members for the kindness and courtesy which you have shown to me in all my visits to this House over a long number of years. I wish you all well for the future.

My respect for this House and its Members derives from my long experience in dealing with the Houses while in public office and the contribution which is made by the Members of the Seanad by virtue of their diverse experiences, skills and talents. Over the years I have always found this House to be immensely important in the democratic process. As a sponsoring Minister, I especially recall the high quality of the debate on legislation in this House and the many improvements which were made as a result of debate and reflection in the generally calmer atmosphere that prevails here, relative to the other place. Speaking in the Upper House——

Specific initiatives in 2008 include:

the use of Shared Services for the provision of Financial Management Services and transaction processing which is estimated to result in a saving of €140,000 in 2008 (full year cost);

measures to monitor and reduce energy use and increase efficiency. It is estimated that this could result in savings in the region of €21,000 per annum; and

an examination of the provision of telecommunications services. While it is anticipated that this should result in efficiency gains and possible savings, these cannot be quantified at this point.

The Department will continue to identify initiatives to increase efficiency which may contribute to further expenditure savings in 2008.

I also acknowledge the work undertaken by Deputy Ó Caoláin and the other Sinn Féin Members of this House who have always engaged constructively with me. I thank them for their work.

All Deputies, irrespective of their party loyalties, have my undiminished admiration. I will always be grateful for the strong values and enduring friendships Members of this House have afforded me. I have many friends in this House for whom I have great respect, as I do also for those I may not know as well. They have shaped the fabric of my politics and, indeed, my life. When I meet them around the country I see what they are doing. I have been in the chicken and chips brigade for 27 or 28 years, so I have watched everybody in their own constituencies and I know the commitment they have made. I entered politics because I believed it to be a noble profession. Over three decades on, I hold firmly to that view which, if anything, is stronger now. I have seen at first hand the long hours and dedication, as well as the pressure on family commitments and the traumas involved.

I would particularly like to mention all the colleagues I worked with here who have gone to their eternal reward. I also wish to mention those who lost out. It is never nice to see people who work so hard losing out because of the whims of the democratic process. I remember all of those.

I am proud that in a hard-working profession I have earned a reputation for being a hard worker. At least you said so, a Cheann Comhairle, and I thank you for that. I openly and honestly admit that during my time as Taoiseach I did not get everything right. I always did my best, however, and worked to the best of my ability for the people. I stood successfully in 12 local and national elections. Public service is a calling and it has been my life’s work. I have enjoyed every day of it, or at least most days.

As I finish my time in the House as Taoiseach, I want to thank every one of you sincerely. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil libh ar fad as ucht bhúr gcairdeas agus bhúr gcomhoibriú thar na blianta. Obviously, I want to thank my family and friends and while I will not go through all their names, I do wish to thank those close to me who supported and advised me. They include my big brothers Noel and Maurice, and my sisters Eileen and Kathleen who are here. I also thank my daughters who are both out of the country today working hard, which is a good family trait.

I will close by quoting the words of a Jesuit writer, the great Fr. John Sullivan. On good and bad days I read Fr. John’s work, and the following few lines selected from his many writings appear suitable today: “Take life in instalments. This day now, at least let this be a good day. Be always beginning, let the past go. Now let me do whatever I have the power to do.”

I am proud to have been elected Taoiseach by this House three times. It has been a great privilege to serve my community and our nation, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity that the House and my constituents have given me. I am always conscious I would not be here if my constituents did not give me the opportunity, like everybody else in the House.

I was first elected Taoiseach on 26 June 1997. The cliché says a week is a long time in politics, and a few colleagues noted that this morning. I am told that when I leave office on 7 May I will have served 565 weeks as head of Government. It has been both a long journey and a real pleasure to have played my part in bringing this country forward and working with everyone in the House to do this over almost 11 years.

As my time comes to an end, I thank all my ministerial colleagues. I am very grateful to all my Cabinet colleagues and my Ministers of State who served with me since 1997. They have soldiered with me, they have sustained me and they have served with loyalty and great skill. I include the Ceann Comhairle in that.

I acknowledge the wise and skilful advice I received from the Attorneys General with whom I served, David Byrne, Michael McDowell, Rory Brady and the current Attorney General, Paul Gallagher. They are very important people these days. Through my Ministers, I thank their respective Secretaries General and departmental staff, who have always provided the Governments I have led with every proper assistance as we endeavoured to do our duty for the people.

I have the height of respect for this country’s Civil Service and believe they are one of the great cornerstones of our democracy. Over many years, I have found them to be the most impartial, dedicated and talented public service on this Continent. One cannot do this job for a year, never mind 11, without working closely with those people. I have huge admiration for them. In that regard, I also mention the many people who work in our State agencies and semi-State agencies. They have always been most helpful to me in my role as Taoiseach and they too can take great pride in their work for the people. It is often forgotten but they work hard.

I thank the secretary to the Government and the Secretary General of my Department, Dermot McCarthy, who encompasses all of the best traditions of the Irish public service. Through him, I thank all of the officials at every level in the Department of Taoiseach. Their professionalism and commitment has been a source of inspiration to me in performing my duties. The Ceann Comhairle will appreciate that when one is in a Department for 11 years, one probably gets to know more about the Department than one should, even more than civil servants would like you to know. I have worked very closely with many of the civil servants and ended up being friends with them, as well as being head of Department.

I acknowledge my advisers, past and present, and especially my long-serving and loyal programme manager, Gerry Hickey, who has been with me since I went to the Department of Finance in 1991. I also thank all those people who worked with me over the years in the Department of Labour and the Department of Finance. I was appointed Minister for Labour on two occasions and Minister for Finance on three occasions. I worked briefly in other Departments also and I thank all the people I worked with.

I thank the Oireachtas Press Gallery, who report on proceedings here, for being courteous down through the years. I understand they have a job to do and deadlines to meet. I appreciate their work.

A Cheann Comhairle, I wish to express my gratitude to you for many years of friendship. In your elevated position, I commend you on the wise use of your parliamentary skills, honed over years of experience, your impeccable judgment and most of all your decency and fairness. I wish you and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle every success.

I will always hold a deep and lasting affection for this House. My respect is rooted in the fact that generations of our people had to fight and struggle to establish a truly representative native Parliament. That sense of respect is further enhanced by the people who serve this House. I have the highest regard for Members on all sides. They work extraordinarily hard to get here and then to remain. They do so because of their concern for others. My long experience of Members is that they give everything and sacrifice a great deal to try to do the best they can for people. The demands placed on them, in every way, are horrendous. Those demands seem to become more onerous each year. Politics is a tough career for officeholders and for those on the front and back benches. There are far easier and more lucrative careers. I think almost every other career is more lucrative. I appreciate and admire Members for all they do.

The staff of Leinster House have always treated me with great courtesy and have always been ready to provide assistance. I particularly wish to acknowledge all of the ushers with whom we deal every day and who are fountains of knowledge on the history of the Oireachtas. These men and women are unfailingly polite in carrying out their duties. I often wonder if all the stories they tell are true but, in any event, they sound good.

I wish to turn now to another place which has my deepest affection, Northern Ireland, and I thank previous speakers for mentioning it. Peace has been the overriding priority of my political life. All of us in the House have lived through the difficulties that arose in the past. I have given that cause my all. I salute today the leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland who have travelled the extra mile for peace. They are all friends of mine now. Our journey is not done but our path has been set. We have seen in our times how much we can accomplish when men and women of goodwill dare to take the risks required in the quest for peace.

Many people from all walks of Irish life and beyond our shores have played an honourable role in fostering reconciliation. It is difficult to single out individuals. Sometimes when one tries to do so, the list becomes too long. I will just mention one individual but I thank them all collectively. So many people played consequential roles but today I wish to make special reference to the First Minster of that other fine democratic Assembly on this island. Like me, Dr. Paisley will soon leave office and bring to a close a long and distinguished career. He has played a significant role in the history of this island. I acknowledge his courage and kindness to me. I wish him and his wife, Eileen, well in retirement. It was my task to work with Dr. Paisley to try to turn matters around. At our early meetings, he stated he would never shake hands with me and there were rows and scowls between us on many occasions. However, we have ended up good friends and I acknowledge his contribution. This island has come a long way and I thank God for that.

I wish to say a word of thanks to all my colleagues at the European Council. I thank previous speakers for their remarks about Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union, which occurred in a special and most enjoyable period of my career. Across Europe, it is recognised that all of Ireland’s presidencies have been good.

Our staff in our embassies and our diplomats in Europe and the wider world represent this country with flair and distinction. People will appreciate that having been an officeholder for 19 and a half years, I have travelled to all parts of the world with these people. I thank them for all the work they do. In recent years we expanded our diplomatic corps across the globe and its members do a good job keeping the Taoiseach of the day abreast of all the issues that arise in the world’s trouble spots. They also help our business interests and Irish people involved in activities in the Third World. I admire the huge efforts these people make. There were many tragedies during my period as Taoiseach and the staff of our embassies have been obliged to work exceptionally hard as a result. I thank them for the dedication they displayed in that regard. Their work made matters much easier for those of us at home.

I wish now to refer to my colleagues in the House. I shall continue to be a Member of the Dáil and thank God for that. I look forward to working with colleagues in the House in a different capacity. I will be earning my living looking after the needs of the people of Dublin Central again. I look forward to doing that.

I look forward to working with Deputy Cyprian Brady, my great friend, in the future for the betterment of our local organisation and the communities we serve. I also look forward to my ongoing work for the people of Dublin Central alongside Deputies Costello and Gregory. I particularly want to wish Deputy Gregory good health into the future. I have spent 30 years working with the Deputy and I wish him well. My lifelong friend, Senator Kett, is suffering from cancer. I wish him well and I hope he can overcome the disease.

All those on the Fianna Fáil benches know innately how honoured I am to have led them for so long and I thank them for putting up with me. Members of Fianna Fáil bring to this House a proud republican tradition which draws on history but which is also focused on building a better future. It is a generous republicanism — outward looking and modern — which embraces our national identity and also our wider European identity. This is the republicanism which inspired me, as a very young person, to join Fianna Fáil. It is the same republicanism that motivates our party today. I look forward to Fianna Fáil going from strength to strength in the years ahead. I have no doubt my successor will do our country and this party proud. Deputy Cowen has been a good friend and he will make a great Taoiseach when, hopefully, the House elects him. I thank him for the years of loyalty he has given to me. No one in politics could have asked for a better friend or colleague. He has worked for our party up and down the country.

The Progressive Democrats have been an integral part of the three Governments I have led. Deputy Harney has served with me in the Oireachtas for 31 years. She has my enduring respect and my gratitude for sharing my commitment to a fairer, stronger Ireland. I also want to extend my good wishes today to former Deputy Michael McDowell, who worked closely with me as Attorney General, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Tánaiste.

In years to come, I will look back with pride on my decision to invite the Green Party into government. The Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputies Gormley and Ryan, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Sargent, and their colleagues have proven to be politicians of conviction and talent. It is my hope that the current Administration will run its full term and deliver on an innovative and meaningful programme for Government. I thank the members of the Green Party for their excellent work.

I also wish to acknowledge the Independent Deputies who have given me steadfast support in government. I thank them for the loyalty they have displayed in respect of the policies I have been pursuing.

I have known Deputy Kenny since I entered Dáil Éireann. He is the only politician in the House who has been here longer than me. I wish him well in his continued service to his constituency and to the country. I have worked with the Deputy and we have enjoyed many social occasions together. We worked hard in our political capacities. I have great regard for you, Enda. I thank you for the job you do as Leader of the Opposition in the House and in various other roles. It is not an easy job and I understand that. Each day, you must come here and represent the parliamentary democratic process. The nature our parliamentary democracy means that from time to time we have crossed swords. I would like to think this was not personal and it has never felt that way to me. While we have not always agreed politically, I have never doubted your sincerity or your patriotism. I wish you well. I also wish Deputy Kenny’s predecessors, former Deputy John Bruton and Deputy Noonan well. They are people I respect.

I have long admired Deputy Gilmore. I have known him for many years in various capacities. He is an incisive parliamentarian with a strong grasp of public policy. I am pleased to say I have many friends in the Labour Party.

It is a fact that — I would urge the House in this respect — practically every place in the world, with very few exceptions from the great democracies to the states of India to the poor of the world, is using technology systems.