Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is now an issue for every party and the Green Party has genuinely placed this issue on the centre stage of Irish politics, which I welcome.

Every small party that aligns with a much bigger party faces the issue of losing its identity. Moreover, there is also the responsibility of being able to give effect to some of one's policies by going into Government, reaching agreement on a programme for Government and being focused on implementing that programme, which I hope we will be able to do in the next five years.

I have already paid tribute to the Ceann Comhairle. I also wish to pay tribute to Deputy Dick Roche, who will no longer be a member of the Government. However, I am delighted that he will become Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. I also warmly welcome the new members of Government and Deputy Brian Lenihan in particular, who served as a Minister of State with me at the Department of Health and Children during the past two and a half years. He has been a terrific colleague and I welcome him into the Cabinet as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I also welcome Deputies Ryan and Gormley and look forward to working with them. I also pay tribute to the outgoing Attorney General, Rory Brady, for his ongoing professionalism and assistance in that regard and welcome his successor, Paul Gallagher SC.

Obviously today is special both for new members of the Government and for all its members. As I noted earlier, it is also a special day for new Members of the House and I am delighted to acknowledge the presence of some new female Members. Unfortunately neither the Progressive Democrats nor female representation in this House did well in the election. Such representation is more or less where it was in the outgoing Dáil, which is a great pity. When Members discuss innovation in politics, they must examine how they can encourage more women to be elected to this House. Notwithstanding my party's disaster in the general election, we still remain gender balanced at 50%, which is unique, as it was the same in the outgoing Dáil.

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