Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank the almost 11,000 people who voted No. 1 for me and those who gave me their second preference in this election. I appreciate this vote of confidence and thank all those who helped. I also congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on his appointment to what is an extremely important job. I hope he will be, as he stated, unbiased. I congratulate the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, on his third term in office. I also congratulate him on the peace in Northern Ireland. While all Members worked towards that goal, he was its spearhead and all Members welcome it. I also welcome the incoming Tánaiste to his post.

However, this is a different Government. As some Members have already noted, given what has been said in recent weeks and months, it is hard to reconcile how this Government can come together. I clearly remember the Minister for Finance's comments about the Greens and the damage they would do. When matters became tough in my constituency, the issue raised was that Fine Gael would need the support of the Greens to enter Government, which it was said would not work as farmers would be destroyed. As five of the six Green Party Deputies are from Dublin, I hope the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, the Taoiseach and all others——

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