Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise a ghabháil do chuile dhuine anseo. I should like to join other Deputies in extending seasonal greetings to the Ceann Comhairle, Members of the House from all parties and none and their families, who are oftentimes not seen or associated with the difficulties elected representatives have to contend with so much. Therefore I should particularly like to pay tribute to the families at this time of Christmas. I should like also to extend seasonal greetings and every blessing for the new year to the Clerk of the Dáil and the staff here in the Houses of the Oireachtas, to the ushers and all the support staff who make Leinster House work on a daily basis.

I should also like to include all the members of the press, without exception, even though they have not always included me and my colleagues in the course of the year and hope that in 2010 we might occasionally enjoy a little more attention. I am conscious as we all are, that while I extend seasonal greetings at this time, there is very little real joy out there in society. There is very little sense of a pre-Christmas atmosphere, so much of it has been lost because of the difficult economic times in which we live. I do not mean this politically, but this has been compounded by decisions and measures taken by Government and passed through these Houses over recent weeks. These are sad times and we in Sinn Féin have endeavoured to play our part in helping to point to alternative ways to address the difficulties we all face. We have a shared responsibility to try to overcome those difficulties. My hope is that when next we rise, if indeed we are to rise in these respective positions in 12 months time, they will be happier and more prosperous times for all our people.

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