John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Leader. I am delighted Senator Cummins was elevated to the position.

Of course the incoming Government is entitled to the support of every Irish man and woman - it will have it wholeheartedly from me - in ensuring that the country returns to prosperity and that the necessary changes are made. However, I ask the Leader to ensure we do not have 11 separate constitutional referendums, as suggested in the programme for Government. I suggest that the proposal for a constitutional review include all of these, although I will be voting against three of them - the abolition of the Seanad, the introduction of same-sex marriage and the removal of the provision on blasphemy from the Constitution. It would be wrong to have 11 separate constitutional referendums. We must ensure there is one proposal for reform of the Constitution, and we can vote on that issue.

It will not be easy to make certain decisions, although some decisions will be easy. For example, it was originally proposed that there be 20 fewer Dáil Deputies. Based on the 2011 census, Dublin will probably lose a seat, but it may lose another six if we have 20 fewer TDs. It will be more difficult for the incoming Government to ensure this change goes through when all of those seven seats will be Government seats. That will take real courage. Another thing that will take courage is the introduction of taxation that the public does not want. I refer specifically to water charges and rates. There is a proposal that councils be given this power, but having spoken to councillors around the country I can say that under no circumstances will they vote for this. They do not believe the Government should divest its responsibility for the introduction of water charges or rates to the councils, and they will not vote for it. It is important that those on the Government side know this. It is a function of Governments to introduce taxation, and it will have real difficulty in this regard.

I hope for the sake of Ireland that the Government has a successful term. There are some issues that may result in knee-jerk reactions, but there are also real, substantive and difficult tasks to be undertaken. I wish it well in its deliberations.