Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an dTaoiseach nua atá tofa ag an Dáil. Is onóir mór é don Teachta Cowen, a chlann, a chairde agus a chosmhuintir i gContae Uibh Fháilí. Glacaim leis gur duine an-chumasach agus an-chliste é. Guím ádh mór air go pearsanta i leith na dualgais Stáit agus phobail a bheidh air amach anseo.

I congratulate the Tánaiste, Deputy Cowen, on his election as Taoiseach. It is a great day and a great honour for him and his family, friends and community.

I travelled back to Dublin from south Galway on Monday evening last through his faithful County Offaly. I drove through Banagher and Ferbane and as I rounded the corner at Ballycumber and headed towards Clara, the pride felt by his local community was obvious. Posters had been put up in anticipation of his election as Taoiseach. There are many present from County Offaly. I do not recall being so overwhelmed by people from that county since the final moments of the 1981 All-Ireland hurling final.

I wish the Taoiseach elect well personally and in respect of the duties he will perform on behalf of the State and the people. He has come to office with the reputation of being a very capable and combative politician. I look forward to debating with him the issues that affect the people of this country.

The Taoiseach elect is entering office at a time of change. Many of those changes are of his own making. He is taking up his position when people are concerned about their jobs and businesses, about how they will pay their mortgages and about the services they receive from the State in hospitals and schools or in their communities.

A lot was done but not all of it has produced the best results for the people in the past 11 years. There are comments I wish to make about that matter but I will reserve them until the Taoiseach elect returns to the House later and we gain an idea of the bigger picture.

I wish Deputy Cowen well in the office of Taoiseach. I also wish him well personally. As already stated, I look forward to engaging with him in what I believe will be direct, honest and straight debate regarding different ways of serving the people.

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