Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Is mian liom aontú leis na cainteoirí eile agus a rá gur onóir iontach é a bheith páirteach sa Seanad. Ba phribhléid é freisin a bheith ag obair as lámh a chéile le comhghleacaithe ar an dá thaobh den Teach, daoine a raibh taithí, tuiscint agus fís don todhchaí acu. Táimid go léir faoi chomaoin ag na daoine a ghlac páirt in an-chuid de na rudaí móra a tharla sa tír seo, agus na rudaí idirnáisiúnta freisin.

Gabhaim buíochas ó chroí le gach uile dhuine, toisc go raibh an taithí phearsanta sin agam. Gabhaim buíochas freisin leis an gCathaoirleach agus an Leas-Chathaoirleach, an Ceannaire, na cléirigh, an fhoireann, agus gach éinne eile a chabhraigh linn anseo. Go minic, bhíodar sa chúlra, ach ag an am gcéanna, thugadar an-tacaíocht dúinn.

I wish to paraphrase that great dictum of Charles J. Kickham that it was an honour to serve, not just for the honour of the little village, as he would have put it, but also for the honour of a great nation. I think we all felt that in this House, that we were participating in a most auspicious way in momentous events.

I felt a great surge of pride in the House when I realised what great tolerance and patience existed among my colleagues when I expressed views they did not hold. I felt quite comfortable in doing that. I felt I was participating in an exercise in democracy and that in some ways we were a legislative watershed where one could express one's views. I do not just mean between the political parties but within our own parties as well. At times I said things that were somewhat off the mainstream view but I always felt it was important to speak because, ultimately, it is the only way for democratic focus to work.

There must be a great sense of pride that we saw so many momentous events taking place while we were in this House. In our own way we were participating proactively in those developments as well. We will have time for greater reflection later to see how we availed of the opportunities which came when those momentous events were being discussed. Perhaps one of the prevailing memories for me of this session of the Seanad was that we saw a new order come into existence in Northern Ireland. I know each Member will recall the number of starts and difficulties we had.

We have had many opportunities for praising the people who participated in that regard. The Taoiseach has already been mentioned. We should remember everybody who played a role. We should acknowledge within our own ranks Senators Mansergh and Maurice Hayes for their contributions. Had I had a wish list for when we came to the conclusion of the Seanad, it would have been to have had what we now have. I recall that when Dr. Paisley was successful in becoming the leader of the majority Unionist party in Northern Ireland, I expressed satisfaction that he did that as a democrat and that his leadership was the result of a democratic process. That is the way we must approach it.

I know how proud the nation will be — I do not just mean the nation on the territory of Ireland, but the Irish diaspora and all friends of Ireland — when a number of events take place, the 8 May perhaps being the most important one of all. We have had an opportunity to express our views on that so often. The fact the Taoiseach will meet Dr. Paisley on the Battle of the Boyne site is unique, but nothing is more historic than the fact the Taoiseach has been invited to address both Houses of Parliament in Britain. This is so historic that not even the greatest optimist would have considered it possible a few years ago. These are some of the memories I will bring with me from the Seanad.

I was always pleased that even though we were successful as a nation, we never forgot other countries that were experiencing difficulty. We always wanted to be part of the resolution they were seeking. I remain hopeful that a resolution will be found to what happened in Iraq and to what is happening in the Middle East and other similar regions. We are a global village and if we do not find a resolution to these difficulties, we too will suffer.

Arís go raibh míle maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Guím rath Dé ar gach éinne a bheidh ag dul sa toghchán agus tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal leo uilig.