Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom i dtosach báire mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le Leo Varadkar a rinne sárobair ar son na tíre mar Thaoiseach. Ceannaire ab ea é a bhí sásta comhoibriú leis na páirtithe eile sa Rialtas seo agus d'éirigh linn dul chun cinn mór a dhéanamh le blianta beaga anuas. D'oibrigh Leo go dian dícheallach Domhnach is dálach ar son mhuintir na tíre seo agus thuig sé na dualgais a bhí air agus an tábhacht a bhí ann na dualgais sin a chomhlíonadh. Tá meas agam ar Leo agus guím gach rath agus sonas air sna blianta atá romhainn.

We have not formally set time aside, but, in the context of this speech, it is a long-established tradition in the House to mark the resignation of a Taoiseach with some short personal comments. In these days of ever-rising disputes in politics, it is a tradition worth preserving.

Deputy Varadkar has been a member of Government for the past 13 years and a Member of this House for 17. He has served his community, party and country in the highest offices of our democratic Republic. This service has been through often difficult times, which required the Government and the Oireachtas to respond to rapidly changing events. During the past four years, we have served in government together, including the tense and often isolated times during the pandemic. I very much appreciate the spirit of open and honest discussion in which we were able to operate, especially with Deputy Eamon Ryan, as we worked together to address these urgent challenges.

I enjoyed Leo's reflections as he spoke earlier. They could be the beginning of a book or some other publication on his time in office. I will not say I await that with trepidation.

I thank Deputy Varadkar for his service.

I wish him, his partner Matt and his wider family well. I have no doubt he will continue to be an active voice in our public affairs.

At the beginning of this Dáil, my party participated in lengthy discussions on the formation of a three-party coalition. Following the conclusion of these discussions, we held the largest vote ever completed by an Irish political party. This ratified both the programme for Government and our agreement to seeking a new way for government to operate. From the first moment, each party gave its commitment to respecting agreements and to implementing our programme across the full term of this Dáil. We were determined that time would not be wasted on the old political game of speculation about election dates and that instead we would focus on the substance of implementing our programme of action. No party or Deputy in this House has a mandate to claim to represent the views of all Irish people or to demand exclusive control of public policies for themselves. There are those in this House who scorn at the idea of centrist politics. To them, the purity of ideology is comforting and they show this by never having any doubt about the certainty of their own views or the fact that they alone represent the Irish people, regardless of whether the Irish people agree with that proposition. However, a distinguishing feature of centrist democracy is the ability to respect differences, find points of agreement and co-operate, and this is what we have done. This Government was formed in the middle of the greatest public health crisis in modern times, with over half a million people out of work. It overcame tremendous pressure during its first two years and by any objective standard saved lives and livelihoods in every community in this country. We have worked together on a programme of investment in a wide range of public services to assist people during a worldwide inflation crisis and to respond to what is, by any measure, a moment of great threat to the future of democracy in Europe. We are three separate parties but seek to work together respecting both our differences and an agreed approach to the most urgent issues facing our country.

Following his election as leader of Fine Gael, I, along with Deputy Eamon Ryan, held a lengthy discussion with Deputy Harris concerning the operation of the Government and our shared commitments to our agreed programme. I am happy to say that this was a very constructive and positive discussion. Deputy Harris confirmed his commitment to implementing our agreements and to the operation of this multi-party Government in a manner which respects each of its components and operates in a consensual and constructive manner. Fianna Fáil will be supporting the proposal to nominate Deputy Simon Harris, as leader of his party, to the President for appointment to the office of Taoiseach. It is an unfortunate reality that much of the Opposition has committed itself to a type of politics which is obsessed with fake outrage and attacking everything. The display we have seen in recent weeks about the election of a new Taoiseach has become more strained and absurd every day. Repeatedly we have heard the claim that this is somehow undemocratic and that there should be an election every time a new Taoiseach has to be elected. There are many opposite who have only very recently become reconciled to recognising and respecting Bunreacht na hÉireann-----

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