John Ellis (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate Senator O'Brien on his appointment and congratulate those who have been elected to the Dáil. I used the same route to the Dáil and I am using the same route out of the House.

Before we leave this House, we need to put a few things on the record. Senator O'Toole signalled that we must make haste slowly when it comes to abolishing the Seanad or other forums available to the public. I will add to that my thoughts on the current idea of amalgamating county councils, which has been suggested in some areas. This will be to the detriment of local communities and county identity.

I agree with much of what Senator Harris said. The incoming Government has decided that the outgoing Government was on the right track and that it will stay on that track for the next two years. That signifies one thing: the new Government realises that what was done by the outgoing Government, despite the resulting loss of popularity, will have to be continued. We must ensure that people are given hope that they can get out of this mess and that "Mother Ireland" can escape from the problems it has. If we do not see an improvement in the next 12 to 18 months, I dread to think where this country and its population will end up. We all see it at the moment, as so many of our young people are forced to emigrate.

One group has escaped in all of this, and it is not the politicians. The regulatory authorities, both in Europe and at home, are what has landed Government after Government in the mess we are in today, yet their members walk away with fine, handsome pensions. The same will be said of us, but we walk out of here knowing that the people who should have kept us advised let us down, and that is the reason we find ourselves in this mess - although I am not saying Governments were not also responsible for some of the things that happened. The new regulators should not make the same mistakes as their predecessors, which have landed this country in a mess.