Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not lost on any of us that Deputy Murphy makes history today by becoming the first female Ceann Comhairle. That is a long-awaited milestone moment in Irish politics. I sincerely wish you all the best as you discharge your duties.

Colleagues, as we gather here today, I want to pay tribute to each of you for securing the support of your families, friends, neighbours and constituents and for securing your own individual mandate to serve in this, the Thirty-fourth Dáil. I particularly pay tribute to all 64 of our new TDs, including 23 from within my own Fine Gael Party, who take their seats here for the first time today. This is a moment none of us ever forgets - the moment we for the first time take our seats in this House. I know it is a source of immense pride for you and your families. It is the greatest honour to serve as a representative of your community. I genuinely wish each and every one of you the most fulfilling experience here in Leinster House.

If I can offer any advice, it is for all of us to remember that we are but temporary custodians of our positions. We are here to serve the people who vote for us and the people who do not. Please do enjoy today. Celebrate this moment with those who support you, who knocked on doors for you, who canvassed for you. To all those who have been re-elected to this House. I offer my sincerest congratulations, as well as to all those who worked so hard for you. While we may differ across this House on policies and politics, every single person in this House is democratically elected and each of us takes our rightful place as a Teachta Dála today. I hope we can find common ground to work together on the issues that matter most to people and that, where we differ, we can engage in respectful debate and set that tone for the Thirty-fourth Dáil, starting here today. I acknowledge and thank all those who ran in the election and were not successfully elected to this House. Today is a difficult day for them and we think of all of them as well. I particularly pay tribute to the 18 Fine Gael TDs who retired at the last election.

A Cheann Comhairle, as Deputies are aware, discussions are ongoing among parties and individual Members of this House on the formation of a new Government following the general election. It is very clear to all that those discussions are ongoing and it will take some time more for them to be completed. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be a new Taoiseach elected or a new Government formed today. For that reason, I do not propose that my party will make a nomination for Taoiseach today. In accordance with the precedent set in 1989 and followed thereafter, I informed President Higgins this morning of my resignation as Taoiseach and that of the Government. In accordance with Article 28.11 of the Constitution, I will continue as Taoiseach until a successor has been appointed and likewise all members of the Government and the Government as a whole will continue to carry out its duties until a new Government has been appointed and elected by this House, too.

I want to reassure people that Government will continue to function and will work for people and in their interests while the work is ongoing to form a new Government. In that vein, I will be travelling later this afternoon to Brussels for this evening's meeting of the EU-Western Balkans summit followed by a meeting of the European Council on Thursday, where I will take an opportunity to discuss many pressing matters. I will do so after an election campaign where we heard clearly from our people that they wish to see a stable Government with a fresh focus on deliveries that matter to them. We all heard across this House about the cost-of-living crisis remaining real in the lives of many and that much needs to be done to support small businesses at a time when the protection of our economy must continue to be paramount. We heard clearly from people that there needs to be a step change in the delivery of disability of services, particularly children's disability services and special education. We heard clearly about law and order needing to prevail and people wanting to feel safer on our streets. We know that we must all work together to make much more progress on the greatest challenge, that of the delivery of housing and the key infrastructure needed to support it and to ensure we continue our prosperity as a nation. We know the geopolitical challenges that we face, a Cheann Comhairle, and which will require a strong, stable Government with a coherent programme and a fiscal and budgetary strategy to be able to help those who need it in the here and now and invest in longer-term services and infrastructure. I want to thank everybody who has worked so hard in the outgoing Government for all of the work they have done in many areas. I am proud of much of the work that has been achieved. There will be time for that on another day.

As we head towards Christmas and the new year, I know that many people in this House will be thinking of those much less fortunate in war-torn parts of our continent who are suffering horrifically in ongoing conflicts. When I travel to Brussels this evening they will be foremost in my thoughts and in my engagements. I want to tell this House one thing with absolute certainty. No Government of any country, especially one which is engaging in the most amoral and brutal onslaught of innocent people and terrified children, will intimidate or silence anyone in this House or this Government when we seek to speak up for peace, human rights and respect for international law. A Cheann Comhairle, political debate in general and debate in this Dáil can often be characterised by division but on the issue of the war in Gaza and the suffering of the people there, I believe we are united. I am very proud that Ireland speaks with a strong voice and it is one which cries out for a ceasefire, for the release of all hostages, for the flowing of humanitarian aid and ultimately for the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine as two states.

Before I conclude today, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone in this House well over the Christmas period. As I said earlier, we are temporary custodians of this House but the staff across Leinster House are the lifeblood of this place. To everyone who plays a role in the functioning of the Oireachtas, in the canteens, the restaurants, the bars, the ushers, the transcribers, the Clerk and all of the staff who work so hard, I want to wish you and your families a very happy Christmas. This has been a busy political year with three elections, a local, a European and a general election, a referendum, and leadership changes in many parties. It is time at the Christmas period to take a breather and take a break. Let us come back with a view to electing a new Government with a clear mandate to deliver for the people.

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