Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

When I worked in a party research office I liked to write a speech that could be delivered with vigour and conviction by the speaker. Senator Coghlan's speech was lacking in conviction. He came to life when he spoke on his favourite subjects, the Great Southern Hotels and Killarney.

As a political person I take pride in two achievements over the last 20 years, namely, the peace process and social partnership, in which I was less directly involved. I remember sitting in Charles Haughey's office in October 1986 when he received Bill Attlee's proposal that the next Government should begin a programme of social partnership. A positive response to that was formulated. Tribute is owed to successive taoisigh and Ministers in the key Departments involved and to the civil servants in the Taoiseach's office and the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, formerly the Department of Labour, which have helped to carry this process forward by negotiating and staying in day-to-day contact with the social partners.

I also congratulate the social partners. The farmers, employers and trade unions were key to it at the outset. A former ICTU president is a Member of this House and we will hear his views shortly.