Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I dtús báire, a Cheann Comhairle, guím gach ráth ort mar Cheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an moladh atá curtha ag an Aire, an Teachta Cowen, maidir le ainmniú an Teachta Bertie Ahern mar Taoiseach na tíre seo. This is a time when the nomination for Taoiseach most clearly reflects the wish of the people who voted for Fianna Fáil in large numbers.

For the six Green Party Deputies — I welcome the newly elected Deputy Mary White, deputy leader of the party, warmly — our support for the nomination of Deputy Bertie Ahern honours a decision taken by the membership of the party throughout this island at a meeting in the Mansion House last night. We are not only voting for Deputy Bertie Ahern to be Taoiseach, but for the opportunity to play our full part in a Government that will set the country on a course to being a leader in terms of quality of life, energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, good food production, equitable health care and good planning. That government will reflect to some extent the diversity that characterises society.

We in the Green Party have worked hard with our colleagues in Fianna Fáil to put together a comprehensive programme for Government that needs to be implemented urgently. With this in mind, we are giving implementation of that programme the green light through our support for Deputy Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach.

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