Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The great Yogi Berra once described situations like this, as being "like déjà vu all over again." That said, it is a great honour to have been nominated by my parliamentary party to fulfil the role of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It is a great honour to be elected to this House at any time. It is a great honour to serve in the House and it has been a great honour to serve for many years, as you know, a Cheann Comhairle, along with your good self and many others. I hope I have learnt some things along the way. I hope I am still learning. It is no harm to learn a little bit as one goes along.

We live in very interesting times and we have to adapt, as I have said previously. We have to be cautious as to how we deal with the situations that arise to a greater extent than we ever did previously. We also need to encourage the new Members of the House to be able to stand up and speak in the House on their own behalf and on behalf of their constituents, to do so fearlessly and to have the confidence to do it and to know they have a job to do, a role to fill and words to say.

We all need to develop a greater recognition and respect for the words we say always in the House but, more especially, to each other. The way in which we address each other in the House can be reflected in the way the public regards us and examine our performance. At a time when politics and public life is challenged, it is important we look at ourselves in this self critical way to try to ensure that what we do does not reflect badly on the House and those we represent, but contributes to the Order of Business in the way the Ceann Comhairle would like us to proceed at all times.

I do not know what the outcome will be. I would be greatly honoured to be allowed to fill the role. I do not know how people will vote. There is no restriction on anybody voting for me who wishes to vote for me. For those who might not wish to vote for me, I encourage them to think long and carefully about it, think again and, maybe, they might have a weak moment and, perhaps, vote for me.

When we pass this way, and I hope we will not pass this way but once, we should learn a few things. I have learned, over time, that one should never become bitter in politics. It is very important. It leaves a lasting taste not only in the minds of the people in the House, but in the minds of people outside the House who watch, absorb and take it on board. We should also try to remember that, whatever we do, we should never take somebody's character, either inside or outside the House. The pressures of politics are urgent, pressing and constant. There is always a tendency to use that extra pressure to make a point. We should avoid making personal points, and I hope I have succeeded in doing so. Is mór an onóir domsa é a bheith anseo maidin inniu le dul ar aghaidh don phost seo. If I am elected, I will do my best to follow the Ceann Comhairle's guidelines and support him in the work he must do. All of us here have a role to play, and I will do my best to play this role.

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