Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I rise as a constituency colleague of the Taoiseach elect to wish him every success. Deputy Gilmore mentioned that he had met many Offaly people around the plinth and the Houses. That is true, but on behalf of the 29% or 30% who are not here, I offer my good wishes from a personal point of view. It is great honour for yourself and your family — for Mary and the girls, your mother and the proud town of Clara and beyond. It is a great day for the midlands. I wish you well.

Reference was also made to previous campaigns. I can remember the three elections of the early 1980s which were a pressured time in political families in Laois-Offaly. The first occasion on which I encountered the Taoiseach elect was outside a church in Kilcormac. He had a silver IR Golf and I had a gold CI Golf. A Cheann Comhairle, the rules of parliamentary procedure would not allow me to recount any more of that story but it was a good one.

I wish the Taoiseach elect well in the very serious challenges that lie ahead. Finally, I wish to quote somebody who I have never quoted before, Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae. He said he had a few pet projects. I too have a few pet projects from the constituency. No doubt I will have ample opportunity to discuss them with the new Taoiseach in the near future. I wish you well.

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