Alex White (Labour)

I welcome the amendment agreed by Fine Gael colleagues in respect of the motion put down by the Fianna Fáil Members, which is the right way to proceed. On a point I have raised before in Private Members' debates, there is a limit to the extent to which we should politicise such issues. There is no doubt that when Government Members seek to congratulate the Government, irrespective of the proposal, this immediately sets off a certain reaction among the Opposition. Perhaps this is wrong and perhaps we are too quick to respond in this way. Unfortunately, however, it is a two-way process and it tends to happen the other way around.

I welcome the more or less non-partisan approach to all of the issues encompassed in this proposal.