Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

The one thing the Minister for Finance cannot be accused of is telling lies, either politically or personally. He has outlined the position in great detail and has been honest and straightforward with the people in regard to the Government's budgetary and economic policy.

I am sure all sides of the House wish to ask the Leader to convey the very best wishes of this House and of the Irish people, first, to Gordon Brown and his wife and children, wishing them well in the future and thanking them for the major contribution they made to British-Irish relations. It is not so long ago that the Prime Minister, Mr. Brown, and the Taoiseach spent long nights in Belfast to ensure the peace process continues. We should not lose sight of that.

In welcoming and wishing well to the new Prime Minister, David Cameron, and his Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, it is instructive to remember the historical legacy shared by all sides of this House in that it was a Liberal Government under Gladstone that introduced the Home Rule Bill in the 1880s. A Liberal Government under Asquith in 1910 put forth the Home Rule Bill which sadly was scuppered, ironically, by the then Tory leader. It is instructive that we have strong historic links with the Liberal Party, now the Liberal Democrat Party.

I join those who asked for a debate before the summer on economic policy and I support much of what Senator Walsh said. Those of us who were present yesterday at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party-----