Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry they are not present this evening.

If I may, I also will mention what lies ahead of Members in the coming months in trying to hold the Government together. As I believe Deputy Katherine Zappone has already stated, the programme for Government is not perfect and no Member can fool him- or herself by stating otherwise. However, I believe that if we work together - as Fine Gael did previously with the Labour Party - with the Independents and with the support of Fianna Fáil, there will be every opportunity to fulfil some of the programme's objectives. I also wish to say a few words to my constituency colleagues, namely, Deputies Ó Snodaigh, Joan Collins and Bríd Smith. I acknowledge that it has been difficult at times in our constituency, because it is a difficult one and we may have had opposing views on issues. However, I hope that over the coming months and years we can work together to fix the problems of child poverty and housing and, above all, to work for the people who elected us. I believe we are all present this evening because of them.

I will conclude with a small quote I have used many times, on which all Members should reflect. While this is not a day for quotes, others have thrown in a few and I may as well throw in one.

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