John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I take the opportunity, a Chathaoirligh, to wish you and your office a happy Christmas, as well as the secretariat, the staff of Leinster House and my colleagues. This is a time of hope and it regenerates us at a difficult time of the year when winter sets in and we think of things higher and greater than the cold and the dark nights.

All this reminds us that there is a symbolism to Christmas. This year, the European Court of Justice has taken a decision on the public display of religion. Whether it is a minaret in Switzerland or whatever, I have no objection. I cannot understand how people could object to a symbol of a God of love. We will have to debate this in the new year to let the European Court of Justice clearly see that the vast majority of the people in this country, as in Italy, would prefer to see the status quo where people are allowed to express themselves in whatever format they wish when expressing respect for a God of love.

In light of the fact that the banking crisis which could have brought down the economy was dealt with this year, and that the public finances have been put in an order that will see us through to 2015, the wisdom of this House should be used next year to look at the future. We should set aside time to see how jobs could be created. This has already started in the House with proposals brought forward on energy and export security. Other ideas might come from the House to ensure the final stage of our recovery, namely, job creation, begins in 2010.