Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I look forward to the year ahead. While there are challenges facing this country and the Government, I believe this country goes into the Presidency of the European Union with a clear agenda, which is to deal with the bank debt and deal with unemployment. The Government has made its position clear. As the Leader of the Labour Party, the Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore said, "Tús maith, leath na hoibre" - our priorities are going to be stability, jobs and growth. I look forward in the next six months to a very active Irish Presidency of the EU that I am confident before March will have secured for this country a deal on the banking debt.

Like the Leader, I would also like to thank colleagues. Our exchanges have been robust but, in the main, professional. I would like to thank some of the people the Leader forgot to mention. First, I thank our own staff, the staff who support the Members of this House. I would like to also mention the library staff, who provide an excellent resource.