Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Tá fíor-áthas orm an phribhléid a bheith agam an Teachta Eamon Mac Giollamóir a mholadh chun a bheith mar Thaoiseach. Chun an fhírinne a rá, is ócáid mór dom é seans a bheith agam é sin a dhéanamh. Dá bharr sin, cuidim leis an rún. Ceapaim ní amháin gur maoineach Taoiseach atá ann, ach freisin go bhfuil na fiúntais pearsanta agus polaitiúil atá ag teastáil ag an am seo aige. Tá sé in ann seasamh ar son iad siúd a bhfuil saibhreas acu agus, go háirithe, ar son chosmhuintir na hÉireann atá ag fulaingt tar éis an fás eacnamaíochta a tharla i rith na blianta atá díreach imithe.

It is a great privilege and pleasure to nominate my colleague, the Leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, for appointment as Taoiseach. What is taking place here today should never be reduced to a choice between personalities. It is a choice between political visions. I believe that fundamental change in Ireland will take place when, on occasions such as this, people will be given the choice that is available in most of the countries of Europe and throughout the world, a choice between a socialist or social democratic vision and its alternative.

The choice between political visions is important at this time, as the person we choose will be responsible for making choices in times of scarcity. Indeed, many people will ask whether those who have squandered the times of surplus and its opportunities are the people who are best equipped to steer the country in times of scarcity. What is important is that there be a reconnection between society and the economy in a way that allows for participation and equality, and offers guarantees to those who have suffered or who have gained little or even lost during the period of the country's greatest economic growth in recent times.

For that reason, it is a great privilege at a personal level to support the nomination of Deputy Eamon Gilmore, the Leader of the Labour Party. He is from a rural background and never lost his connection with it and its issues. He moved to an urban setting and has taken on the issues of that setting. He has a generosity of spirit and can listen to the voices that come from below while, at the same time, he is able to discount the raucous demands of the speculative voices of those who have destroyed the connection between our economy and society, eroded trust in politics and created so much disillusionment. In addition, he will be able to represent, in a conclusive way, the cultural prospects of our country.

Beidh sé in ann seasamh ní amháin don Ghaeilge ach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta freisin. Tá taithí aige. Sheas sé i gcónaí ar son na fiúntais atá tábhachtach agus a thagann ón dtraidisiún. Ag an am chéanna, is duine nua-aimseartha é. It is with much pleasure that I nominate somebody with the personal qualities of Deputy Eamon Gilmore. He has experience of negotiation, the real negotiation that counts when workers whose livelihoods and wages are being threatened by obdurate employers. That is the real negotiating experience he has. He also has experience in politics at every level. Most important, tá na fiúntaisí pearsanta aige i gcomhcheangal leis na fiúntaisí polaitiúla atá aige. It is when a person combines a political vision with fine personal qualities that one can have confidence that change can happen. Dá bharr sin, tá áthas orm cuidiú leis an moladh seo.

See this speech in context