Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The old saying that a week is a long time in politics was never more true than today. I had, obviously, prepared for a different kind of Leaders' Questions here at 3.45 p.m. but events, as they say, have overtaken that. I want to say, man to man, to Deputy Bertie Ahern, as Taoiseach, that I have known him since 1977. I have watched him rise through his own party to the exalted and privileged office of Taoiseach. I have interacted with him personally and politically on many occasions over the past 30 years. I recall us representing our country against the Brits in Islington when we were a little younger and maybe a little fitter. The Taoiseach played his part at left midfield.

I know the pressures that public life can place on people and family life. I know that this must be a sad day for the Taoiseach in arriving at the decision he made. When I was elected leader of Fine Gael, I stood in this place and said that I would be happy to give credit where credit was due to the Taoiseach or the Ministers in his Government based on their achievements. I have not failed in my responsibility in that regard. I assume there will be time on the formal date of the Taoiseach's resignation to pay tribute to him as Taoiseach for the work he did and the service he carried out on behalf of our country.

I reflect in particular on the part that all leaders have played since my time in this House in putting together the jigsaw for peace in Northern Ireland. Obviously, the Taoiseach was in office when that came to fruition. We hope that peace continues. I thank the Taoiseach for his unfailing courtesy to me at all times regarding briefings on matters of State and so on.

As I said in a forum outside the House, I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has made this decision, tough and inevitable as it has been. From that perspective, this day had to come and I am glad that the Taoiseach recognises that the ongoing work of Government was being distracted by events at the Mahon tribunal. We will have an opportunity again to talk about the Taoiseach's achievements. He has always been a pragmatist. He understands that night follows day, the seasons change and follow each other. Life goes on and politics goes on. From that perspective our country obviously faces a number of serious challenges. One of those in which the Taoiseach and I share a common opinion is approval for the European Union reform treaty. The finalisation of the referendum date remains within the Taoiseach's control before his date of resignation. I ask him to confirm whether the referendum will take place in the week of 12 June as he intimated here prior to the Dáil rising before the Easter recess. It is obviously of interest to everybody who has a part to play in this to have some clarification of the date so that we can plan accordingly.

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