Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

That is a matter of pride for all Irish people. I was there on that evening and I recall the pride I had in him, what he had achieved and the privilege it was to work and learn from him. There was much I had to learn.

I say this to Bertie Ahern today as he heads to the United States, where a fitting tribute will be paid in another cradle of democracy, the Houses of Congress. The Irish diaspora has had a very real historical presence there through the years, from the time we faced catastrophe and cataclysm in our own history 150 years ago. He will go to that place, the cradle of the American democracy, and be feted for what he has done, and not only for the Irish diaspora and those millions of Americans who feel themselves part of Ireland today, as they and their forefathers were in the past. He has given an example — with others, as he will always claim — that even in many forsaken parts of the world, where conflict is a constant, it is possible through politics and constitutionalism to ensure people's difference and diversity can be accommodated in a co-operative way. This is a way that will provide for Ireland the prospect of being acclaimed throughout many parts of the world in future as a result of our ability to live beyond our history and create our own.

Be it in the United States, the European Union, Northern Ireland, this House or any parish, town or village in Ireland, we have seen consistently a standard of statesmanship and political skill which it has been our privilege and pleasure to observe. He has grown and developed too. His potential has been realised and there is more to come, le cúnamh Dé, in whatever task he puts his mind to in future. On behalf of my party, he is a resource we will not easily let go of.

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