Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach to the Seanad, the second House of the Oireachtas. I am delighted he is here today. It is his first visit as Taoiseach and I hope it will not be his last. We are not too bad here really. We have a Castlebar man as Cathaoirleach, so he is in good hands.

We all fully support the Taoiseach as the President of the European Union from 1 January to the end of June 2013. It is a great honour for the Taoiseach, for the Government and for Ireland. We have a very proud record, with seven presidencies of the European Union. In 1990, when I was a Minister of State, another Castlebar man, Charles J. Haughey, led us and Germany was reunified under the Irish Presidency. That was some record and I wish the Taoiseach similar success in other fields in the next six months.

The Taoiseach has a particular role and he outlined very well his aspirations and the policies he wishes to pursue during the Presidency. I know he has the ability and ambition to achieve them. As he knows, both of us were Ministers for trade and it is vitally important. The Taoiseach, as President of the European Union, and his Ministers, as presidents of Councils, will have a particular role in leading trade missions not only throughout Europe but throughout the world, in particular to China and America. His status not only as Taoiseach of this country but as the President of the European Union for this period has particular importance which cannot be bought. By the way, we will not hold the Presidency again until 2027, which is a very long time away. That is why the opportunity must be grabbed, which I know the Taoiseach will do.

An area of international policy, about which most Members of this House are concerned, is the Middle East. Great difficulties have arisen there again. Hopefully, during the Taoiseach's Presidency, he will have some influence in the Palestine-Israel situation. He will have a busy schedule but it is vitally important he uses his position to try to bring about some sense of unity in that region.

I would like to extend an invitation to the Taoiseach to address the plenary session of the Council of Europe, which represents 47 countries and 800 million people. To go to the Council of Europe, as President of the European Union, would be of particular significance. The Council of Europe extends into Russia and beyond. It is a particular platform of which I believe the Taoiseach will avail.

The Taoiseach has tremendous support from the Civil Service as has this Government and as Governments have had in the past. The civil servants are preparing the way for this Presidency and they will not be found wanting in the work they will do for the Taoiseach and for Ireland. St. Patrick's Day 2013 will be very significant in that the President of the European Union will meet the President of America and it will emphasise the great gathering which is planned.