Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

It is a little unusual to be paying official tributes of this kind to a retiring Taoiseach two weeks before the date of his official retirement. Two weeks is an awfully long time in politics, particularly in the case of this man. Give him two weeks and one would never know what he might pull out of the hat. Your final day in this House as Taoiseach truly marks the end of a remarkable era in Irish politics. When you were elected to the office of Taoiseach on June 26 1997, very few of our friends in the Press Gallery or on this side of the House believed you would hold that office for almost 11 years.

However, you are an extraordinary politician whose work rate is 24-7. Few, if any, have so seamlessly combined the duties of statesman with service and availability to constituents. The Taoiseach has been difficult to oppose because of his consensual ability to embrace and to absorb and criticism and to make it appear his own.

It is not in any way to underestimate your subsequent achievements to state you were in many respects a lucky Taoiseach who came to office at a time of remarkable opportunity. As the outgoing Taoiseach said following your election on that day in 1997:

The economic conditions in which this new Government will enter office in a few hours are exceptional in historic terms. Never before have we seen such rapid growth in employment. Never before have mortgage and interest rates been at such a low level. The Government also comes into office at a time when the foundations have been laid for major moves towards a settlement in Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach enjoyed office during a time of rapid and sustained economic growth, conditions that would have been the envy of any of his ten predecessors who had the honour to lead an independent Irish Government. You did many positive things in your time in office that will remain as a monument to you. There was a great growth in personal wealth, for some at least. There was a huge increase in the number of people in employment. You showed a great commitment to the social partnership process and delivered a period of almost unprecedented industrial peace. While there were other things we believe you could and should have done, that analysis can be left for another day.

Perhaps the achievement the Taoiseach can be most proud of is his work in regard to Northern Ireland. As the outgoing Taoiseach noted in 1997, the foundations had been laid for major moves towards a settlement in Northern Ireland. However, everyone knows of the enormous effort and commitment that the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair put into the efforts to secure a permanent peace and political stability on this island. Your patience and ability as a negotiator and conciliator were never more needed than in that process. I am sure that when the Good Friday Agreement was signed ten years ago this month, you had hoped that you were approaching the end of the road and could little have appreciated the time and effort that would still be required to bring the process to finality. The Irish people, North and South of the Border, and indeed the British people, owe you an enormous debt of gratitude for your work in helping to create the political institutions that at last appear to be taking firm root and finally freeing the people of this island from the scourge of politically motivated violence. The Taoiseach's role in this process alone would guarantee his place in Irish history.

I also wish to pay tribute to his work on the European stage as I am familiar with his commitment to the European project. I know, from my own contacts though the Party of European Socialists, how well you are regarded for your work in Europe by politicians of all political hues.

It is the duty of Opposition parties to hold the Taoiseach and the Government of the day to account. It was our duty and obligation to criticise and challenge actions of his Government and to question at times his actions, including the political implications of issues that emerged at the Mahon tribunal. You have proven to be a difficult opponent for Members on this side of the House. Your knowledge and understanding of the range of issues that are thrown at you on a daily basis from this side of the House have been remarkable. You have rarely lost your cool, despite the confrontational and adversarial nature of many exchanges in this House. I also want to put on record that, like my predecessors, I have always found you to be exceptionally courteous in any of our private dealings.

You have had a remarkable record. You are the second longest serving Taoiseach in the history of the State, with a string of three successive election victories under your belt. You are a Taoiseach who presided over Government though unprecedented economic growth, who played a central role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and who is a highly regarded player on the European stage.

The Taoiseach, his family and his party can be justifiably proud of his achievements. You are retiring from the position of Taoiseach at a relatively young age. I hope you will enjoy the honour bestowed on you in being invited to address a joint session of the United States Congress. I wish him well in his retirement and fulfilment in whatever role he may now decide to fill.

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