Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Two minutes is very tight but I will do my best. I join in the welcome to the Tánaiste, who is a man for whom I have some admiration. I dealt with him in the past when he served in a previous Administration in the 1990s as a member of Democratic Left and always have found him to be a fair and committed politician. I also wish him well in the chairmanship of the OSCE. Two highly significant years obviously are approaching because next year, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the European Union. These years will be pivotal both for Ireland and for the wider global community and we have a part to play in this regard. I am delighted that the secretary general of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is present to observe the mission and I join with the Cathaoirleach in the welcome to him.

In this regard, after their meeting with the Tánaiste yesterday, the secretary general and Parliamentary Assembly, President Petros Efthymiou, subsequently met the Irish delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly. At that meeting, they acknowledged and welcomed the Tánaiste's priorities and the manner in which he has commenced his period of chairmanship of the OSCE. They certainly had a constructive meeting with the Tánaiste yesterday. Moreover, it is fair to state the six Irish members of the Parliamentary Assembly are very keen to play whatever constructive role they can in assisting the Tánaiste during Ireland's chairmanship this year. Perhaps the Tánaiste might examine how the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly can best assist in his various priorities and programmes and I may have one or two suggestions to make in this regard.

I also greatly welcome the Tánaiste's comments on Georgia. I visited that country last October and am conscious of the difficulties regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia within that particular country and am aware of the influence that Russia has on these regions. It is to be hoped the appointment of the Tánaiste's special representative will make a contribution in this regard. Nagorno-Karabakh appears to be an issue that could be prioritised in that significant progress could be made during the year given that the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have recently come together. However, there was something of a stand-off between them. While in the region, I was given to understand the chemistry between them was not the best from the point of view of creating or advancing the success they already had achieved in going a considerable way towards reaching agreement.

The two minutes slot could not have lapsed already.