Peter Callanan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Joe Walsh, and congratulate him, his ministerial colleagues and departmental staff on representing Ireland so ably when they wore the green jersey in the mid-term review negotiations which were far-reaching and during which something could have gone wrong. I compliment the Minister for doing so well as captain of the team wearing the green jersey and achieving what he set out to achieve. He went to Brussels and Luxembourg and took part in the negotiations facing an impossible situation – to retain for Ireland the benefits that we already had. The Minister achieved the impossible and that is why I congratulate all concerned. Like the Cork team that went to Thurles on Sunday and won against the odds—