Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on his election and pay tribute to the negotiating team from the Green Party with whom my ministerial colleagues, Deputies Cowen and Dempsey, and I worked so closely in the past ten days or so. I refer to Deputy Gormley, Dan Boyle and Dónall Geogheghan. Despite whatever comments have been made, they constituted a formidable team. They had strong opinions and put them forward. At the outset of our talks they stated they wished to enter into discussions in good faith. I firmly believe that at their conclusion we ended up with good faith on both sides and deep respect for both participants in the talks, namely, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party. From those discussions, we got a programme for Government that is ambitious, will be good for the country and will transform it during the next five years. The new arrangement with the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats gives us what the Taoiseach set out to put together, namely, a broadly based Government.

In the next couple of years, the country will face strong challenges. There are major issues to deal with in terms of immigration, environmentally sustainable economic growth, investing more in services, continuing to eradicate the remaining levels of poverty and dealing with an Ireland that is getting into its stride. This governmental configuration is strong and dedicated to written policies that will allow us to tackle the issues in the years ahead.

I thank my colleagues who took part in the discussions. A special thanks is due to every Member of the House, particularly those who find themselves on the Opposition benches. Politics is a difficult business, an honourable profession where public service is important. All of us, including those opposite, fought strong campaigns for the same cause, namely, to advance our country and to make it more successful and a better place for us and those who follow us. The parties opposite provided a valuable service in the recent campaign by showing up policy differences and options for the nation and then accepting the decision of the people in terms of the options put to us.

There is a great deal of cynicism regarding politics, but if one asks those in the Chamber who fought successfully to get elected, the leaders who needed to fight tooth and nail in every corner of the land or those in the front lines of the recent campaign, they will say the profession of politics is about public service. It is not easy and everyone plays his or her part. Every Deputy should feel enormous pride in being sent here by their people and communities to help this nation take more steps forward, for which reason we are in attendance. Whatever policy differences, rows and acrimony are on the floor of the House, we must remember our duty to remove some of the cynicism and to realise that those present are honourable, have the confidence and faith of the people who sent them here and deserve respect because of their mandates.

I wish to pay a special word of congratulations to my constituency colleague, Minister to be, Deputy Ryan. With Deputy Tom Kitt as Chief Whip, Dublin South will be well served.

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