Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to join my colleagues in paying tribute to the outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny. He did an outstanding job as leader of Fine Gael, as a Deputy and as Taoiseach of this country. He did a number of outstanding things. When he came into office, he provided leadership and made sure that the entire Cabinet and Government were motivated to deliver. Putting in place the right ground rules for the creation of jobs was a priority. As a result, over 200,000 people are now back at work compared to 2012. That has benefits, in that there is more income for the State which means more services can be provided.

Deputy Kenny gave two outstanding speeches as Taoiseach. One concerned the Cloyne diocese report, which sent a clear message to the church. The second was his more recent speech in Washington, in the presence of President Trump. It sent a clear message to the United States and around the world. It was a very important speech.

The contribution he has made will stand to this country for a long time to come. The groundwork has been done. We still face major challenges. We know those challenges can be dealt with. If we work together we can meet those challenges.

I refer to the comments of Senator Norris and others on Northern Ireland and the need for a nationalist voice in Westminster which is not there. It is not so long ago that the Sinn Féin Party objected to this country joining the European Union. It changed its mind on that and now has no problem in participating in the European Union. In vies of this there is no reason why it cannot represent the people who voted for it in the Westminster elections.