Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome Senator Darragh O'Brien and congratulate him on his appointment to the Seanad. I join with the Cathaoirleach in congratulating all the Members who were successful in the general election and commiserate with those who have not been successful at this point.

Since our last meeting the people have spoken and have voted for change. What we have seen is a revolutionary election which heralded a sea change in Irish politics. The people have given their verdict on the outgoing Government, holding it to account in no uncertain way for the part it believes the Government played in the economic crisis in which the country finds itself now. There is no doubting the enormity of the challenge. Tomorrow we will certainly have a broad-based and unified Government which will have an agenda of reform and change. I am sure everybody in the House would wish the incoming Government every success for the future. We will certainly need it.