Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The Minister is very good. I take it as a compliment to my work when people say I should run for it. I read articles in magazines and in The Irish Times, and therefore it must be true, listing me with revered big-name candidates. I do not say that in a virtuous way but I take that as a compliment to my work. I am happy to be a Fianna Fáil Deputy based in Tallaght and looking after the people of the whole of Dublin South-West, which is my focus, but I will be supporting the Minister's views on the election for Dublin mayor. I look forward to that legislation and I give the Minister a guarantee that I will speak up for him when it comes forward.

I feel strongly about the position in that regard. I look at other cities including New York, for example, where the mayor made a huge impression at the weekend. It proves that the work can be done. Boris Johnson appears to be a nice man too. I recall exchanging correspondence with him when he was running for election and he told me he was interested in the development of the job. He expressed a view about the Irish vote in a hand-written note. The system and the model must be good.

I had not intended to pick on Fine Gael because it is a nice quiet evening and I do not want to do that but listening to the Minister and the debate earlier I am reminded that my colleague, the Chief Whip, Deputy John Curran, spoke last week about political opportunism with regard to the Waterford by-election while at the same time not mentioning Dublin South. I can talk about Dublin South because I share a boundary and live close to it.

I had a high regard for George Lee. I got into some trouble with Deputy Hogan's colleagues for offering him a desk at the time when he was under some pressure.

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