Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I am delighted to speak about this important body. Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom comhgairdeas a ghabháil leis an gcathaoirleach, an Teachta Joe McHugh, and his co-chairman, Mr. Laurence Robertson, MP. In particular I commend Deputy Joe McHugh on the excellent manner in which he arranged and conducted this plenary session in Baile Átha Cliath. It was a show piece, and I thank the officials and the clerks for their work, including the previous clerk who was honoured at a function the other night for his work in the past. We set a very high standard in Dublin which is to be envied by Scotland, Wales and Britain. I am not saying they have to live up to it but I hope they do. We put our best foot forward.

The session was attended by captains of industry. It was a high powered session attended also by the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Transport. The Northern Ireland Secretary attended also. I have been to Brighton for one of the sessions. I have been a member only since the election of this Dáil and we had nothing like that calibre of Government Ministers or a Taoiseach at that session. It is important to give credibility and a sense of recognition to this body. As the Taoiseach stated, England is our closest partner and is closest to us economically. That was not the case in the past when we had many differences but in time we left those behind because developments are taking place in Europe on an hourly basis and we do not how much we will need Great Britain for support.

I refer to the back room staff who worked diligently, not just on the Sunday night, the Monday and the Tuesday but for months in advance of the session. I am sure they will need weeks after it to tidy up the various arrangements. On the first night in the Shelbourne Hotel I was delighted to get the fine history from David-----

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