Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I concur with those who have congratulated the Members of this House who have been elected to the Dáil. I will go further and pay tribute to all those who have put their names before the public in the interests of the democratic process. It is essential that we have people with courage and commitment who are prepared to do so, often at great sacrifice to themselves and their families. It is important, therefore, that they are recognised. It is all too easy to offload on politicians, which tends to be done by people in the media and the public at large.

I welcome to the House Senator Darragh O'Brien who has been an outstanding politician in the Dáil. I have no doubt he has a bright future here and I hope he will return to the Dáil in the future.

I want to raise two items. A number of weeks ago I raised on the Adjournment the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and Pakistan. The Minister with responsibility the minorities in Pakistan, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, has since been murdered outside his parents' home. With one voice we should condemn what is a sectarian murder, an atrocious way for any society to conduct itself. I would like to think the incoming Minister for Foreign Affairs will make Ireland's voice heard in that regard.

I read with interest and welcomed a comment made by Deputy Enda Kenny quoted in the newspaper in recent days that the disastrous mistakes made by the coalition Government led by Dr. Garret FitzGerald in the 1980s will not be repeated. That is essential. The mistake at the time was that the issues confronting the country were not faced. They were allowed to fester and as a consequence, they prolonged the recession when the rest of the world was doing extremely well. I ask that the issues be faced in this instance.

As with Senator Harris, I am concerned with the programme for Government, which in many instances fudges a number of the huge economic challenges that face us. It would be terrible if we failed to move ahead, improve economic competitiveness and deal with the real issues.