Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I first entered the Dáil the same day as the Ceann Comhairle, and that is a few days ago, now. I want, first, to pay tribute to all the good people in House before the Ceann Comhairle cuts me short, as I might have too much to say. I worked under four leaders including Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey, the brightest and best. I was at Leopardstown races some weeks ago and there was a poster saying, "Bring back Haughey, clean up the mess". I served under taoisigh Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern and now Brian Cowen and I enjoyed every day of my time here.

I did not get high office because I did not behave myself, which is a tragic situation. Blind loyalty is ruining every party and organisation in the country. I want to pay tribute to all my good friends on the Opposition side, even Sinn Féin. Deputy Arthur Morgan served with me on the Joint Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and we got on well. His contributions were always worth listening to. I had good friends in the Labour Party as well.

As regards Fine Gael, it is interesting to reflect that on the day I lost my job as Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture I met Deputy Enda Kenny coming out the door of Leinster House as I was coming in. He had lost a job on the Front Bench under Deputy Michael Noonan who had taken over as leader of Fine Gael. Deputy Kenny said: "We've no more business here. Come on away with me." He came back and is bound for greener pastures and I am going back to the hills and valleys of north Cork. I want to congratulate him on his efforts on behalf of Fine Gael. He has done wonderful things for Fine Gael since he was made leader. He has often been under pressure, and wrongly I would say. To our embarrassment and disadvantage he has done well for Fine Gael. I am confident that he will be Taoiseach, so I wish him well, and regret I will not be here to question him from the Opposition side, because I always loved being in opposition. I want to say "well done" to him and an overall majority might be within his grasp.

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