Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

As I did not participate in this morning's debate, I take the opportunity to pay a warm tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, for her contribution to public life over a period of almost 30 years. She was a Minister and a Minister of State. Her first contribution to public life was to seek vigour in national policy. I hope she is reasonably satisfied that it has been in place since and that she contributed to it. She has left her mark in many areas, not least the arts and culture. One such mark is the Excel Heritage Centre in Tipperary. Being a close neighbour of County Clare, I am aware of the monuments with which she will be associated in Ennis and elsewhere. I hope she feels proud of her contribution to public life. I was in India earlier this week when I was again forcefully reminded of the close links between Ireland and that country, not to mention between some of the leading Indian nationalists and the Minister's grandfather. There was a fascinating letter in the Nehru Memorial Museum, dating from 1909, drawing the attention of Nehru's father who was also a politician to the emerging importance of Sinn Féin. Another nationalist leader, Chandra Bose, came to Ireland in 1933 and met Mr. de Valera and his Ministers, from whom he received valuable advice.

I will now turn to the legislation. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his patience.