Seanad debates

Thursday, 24 April 2008

Good Friday Agreement and Lisbon Treaty: Statements

 

1:00 pm

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Táim buíoch daoibh as ucht an deis seo labhairt libh inniu. Tugann sé seans dom a rá arís go bhfuil meas fé leith agam ar an dTeach seo.

My respect for this House and its Members derives from my long experience in dealing with the Houses while in public office and the contribution which is made by the Members of the Seanad by virtue of their diverse experiences, skills and talents. Over the years I have always found this House to be immensely important in the democratic process. As a sponsoring Minister, I especially recall the high quality of the debate on legislation in this House and the many improvements which were made as a result of debate and reflection in the generally calmer atmosphere that prevails here, relative to the other place. Speaking in the Upper House——

Photo of Nicky McFaddenNicky McFadden (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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——is an appropriate occasion on which to reflect on the importance of the democratic process, of confidence in representative structures and of the need for legitimate and respected fora in which grievances can be aired, contrasting policies debated and proper direction be given to the apparatus of the State. Ultimately, that can happen and succeed only through the will of the people and their confidence in those who represent them and in the institutional framework within which those representatives carry out their duties.

It is all too easy to forget the long struggle to create the political institutions in which we have the privilege to serve and which meet the test of public confidence and legitimacy. This is not to be taken for granted. On the contrary, we must be constantly attentive to ways of ensuring that our people understand and support the ways in which we do business on their behalf. It is for that reason, that I have been supportive of the reflections of this House on ways in which Seanad Éireann can play an even more active and strategic role in the public life of the State. In particular, I believe that the capacity of this House to engage with longer-term issues and deeper challenges than generally constitute the day-to-day business of the Lower House should be used to the full. I wish the House well in its continuing reflections on how its particular mission within the democratic process can evolve and develop in the years ahead.

The absence of democratic institutions which commanded the confidence and engagement of the population was at the heart of the devastating conflict in Northern Ireland, towards the resolution of which I have dedicated a large part of my period as Taoiseach. It was always my firm conviction that we could build a new relationship between the traditions on this island, and that we could move on in a new spirit of friendship, based on open dialogue and mutual respect.

I am glad to say that, in the past year, we have seen remarkable progress in Northern Ireland, in relations on this island and relations between these islands. This is taking a practical form through the important progress we are making in areas like transport and education, agriculture and the environment, tourism and energy. I have no doubt we can make an enduring resounding success of our all-island economy. We are committed to completing the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Executive, as we continue to implement the St. Andrews Agreement in full.

I am also pleased that North-South co-operation is developing on a very practical level through the national development plan, including joint investment in strategic projects of mutual benefit to both jurisdictions. I am especially pleased that the Government is contributing €60 million to an exciting new joint innovation fund over the next four years.

At a political level, I was honoured last week to address the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The establishment of the committee is an expression of the new political reality on this island. At that meeting, we had representatives from North and South engaging on a matter of significance for the whole island. It was regrettable but understandable that many Unionist representatives felt unable to attend. I hope that one day public representatives from all traditions will feel able to engage together on issues that affect us all. It is my belief that it makes eminent sense for all of us on this island to work together, for the benefit of all our people.

My confidence in the future is increased by events like the one to which I am looking forward on Tuesday, 6 May when together with the Northern Ireland First Minister, Dr. Paisley, I will officially open the site of the Battle of the Boyne. The opening of this new site and its impressive visitor centre will be a recognition of the significance of the battle in the history of Ireland and Europe. It is also a symbol of how far we have travelled and of our desire for reconciliation between the great traditions that share this island. Real and genuine reconciliation will enable all of us to move beyond the conflicts of the past and the legacy of history.

A more thoughtful approach to the history of conflict on this island leads us to realise that we can best understand our history in the context of wider issues and forces which operated across Europe. Long before we became one of the world's most open trading nations, we formed part of an international network. At all stages of our history, from early trading contacts, through waves of migration across Europe, and from the early monks who set forth to preach the gospel in Europe, to the network of Irish colleges which remain part of our European heritage, Ireland and her people have been an integral part of a wider European identity. Our membership of the European Community, and the development of the institutions and policies of the Union in the context of our shared values, are the modern expression of that identity.

On 13 December 2007, I signed the reform treaty in Lisbon. The treaty is designed to enable the European Union to manage 21st century challenges which, increasingly, are global in nature — such as climate change, energy demand, cross border crime and, of course, the global economy. At the same time, the treaty rationalises the European Union's institutional arrangements so that the Union can function in a fair, efficient and effective manner. It also brings into force the Charter of Fundamental Rights to reflect the Union's values and to underpin the rights of the individual across the Union.

An extensive information campaign is being conducted by the Government to ensure the public are well informed in advance of the referendum. It is clearly desirable that the maximum possible number of citizens are encouraged to cast their vote. I regret that so far, part of the public debate on the reform treaty has been based on issues which are not related to the text in any credible way. An international treaty of this kind is inevitably a rather complex document but the substance to which it gives rise is clear and easily understood. I regret that some have sought to use the necessary complexity of form and language to camouflage their true feelings about Europe and the European Union, or otherwise to create mischief.

I welcome the efforts being made by the National Forum on Europe, by the political parties and by other concerned groups to ensure that the true facts are made known. I acknowledge there can be legitimate differences about policy and institutional matters affecting Europe. However, we must ensure these differences are grounded in reality and fully respect the right of the people to have accurate information and arguments put before them before they exercise their solemn duty under the Constitution. I have no doubt that the Referendum Commission will be highly professional in its mission to encourage the maximum possible number of voters to participate on the day of the referendum.

My advice to the Irish people is to maintain a clear focus on the core question of our relationship with Europe. The record since our accession is very clear; whenever we have associated ourselves with the evolution of the European project, it has worked to our benefit both economically and socially. Our European identity, apart from being rooted in history, has also been a critical element in shaping the context within which peace and reconciliation on this island have been developing since the wider European context and the Union's engagement with countries, regions and communities has enabled us all to rethink issues that are so important to us. Ratification of the treaty will therefore provide a solemn basis for the continuation of that positive European engagement for Ireland, while enabling Europe as a Union to serve its citizens more effectively in the important and urgent areas where they look for effective support and leadership.

I have never seen any conflict or even tension between my sense of being an Irish Nationalist in the republican tradition while at the same time being a European citizen. On the contrary, I have seen the effective sovereignty of our country enhanced and deepened by our participation in Europe.

In the same way as it has benefited relations on this island, European membership and the European context have also benefited the development of a more mature and friendly engagement with our nearest neighbours. The European social model is a distinct contribution to political and social life. By contrast with the prevailing philosophy in other parts of the globe, it is a model of which we can be proud and to which we have contributed our own distinctive experience. The appropriate balance between national self-determination and collective action through pooling of sovereign authority is not just a matter of rules of subsidiarity, it is also a matter of mutual respect between the national and the European levels. The enhanced role for national parliaments provided for in the reform treaty is an important expression of that respect.

It is with the concept of respect that I wish to conclude my remarks. My respect is not just for this House as an institution but for the work which Senators undertake for the common good. I respect in particular the seriousness of purpose with which Members of this House go about their business as law makers. This is true both of those large personalities who are national figures with a deserved public profile, as well as of those whose reputations are centred on this building for the care and expertise which they bring to their work. I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, and all of the Members for the kindness and courtesy which you have shown to me in all my visits to this House over a long number of years. I wish you all well for the future.

Photo of Pat MoylanPat Moylan (Fianna Fail)
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I will call on the leader of each group and they will have speaking time of four minutes each. I call Senator Donie Cassidy.

Photo of Donie CassidyDonie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)
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This is an historic day for Seanad Éireann. As Leader of the House on behalf of all the Members I welcome our Taoiseach. He has been very supportive over the years and his continued support has been much appreciated. We are honoured to have him here in our presence today. We welcome him as Taoiseach of Ireland and as someone who has shown wholehearted commitment to peace and reconciliation among the people on this island.

It must be a matter of great pride for the Taoiseach as he stands down from office to know that he was one of the prime movers in bringing lasting peace to our country. Although there were many involved in the success that is now a peace in Northern Ireland and all of Ireland, he was the prime architect of this peace. When many would have lost patience, he never gave up. He remained focused on his goal, displaying extraordinary courage and wisdom. The challenges posed were enormous, to remove the causes of conflict, of which there were many, overcome the legacy of history and heal the deep divisions of the past.

The Taoiseach recognised that for an agreement to be acceptable to all involved, it must take into account the various traditions on this island and encourage tolerance, equality and mutual respect. This could only be achieved by bringing all parties together and encouraging a consensus on the way forward. This is one of the Taoiseach's strongest talents. No one else that I know has had the same success in pulling people together from all parts of the island of Ireland.

When Fianna Fáil went into Government in 1997 with our partners the Progressive Democrats, many people on the island said the Government did not have a chance of survival. Time has proved them wrong. It not only survived but was extremely successful. Those of us who have been around for quite a long time as Members of this House and of the other House, can say this was the most successful time in our country's history.

The survival and success came about because of the Taoiseach's personal qualities, his great ability to focus on the task at hand and his capacity to understand and accept other viewpoints and traditions. This is the reason that Government survived and the reason he was elected successfully and consecutively three times by the people of Ireland. This has only been achieved by one other Taoiseach in the history of our country.

Deputy Ahern was also the Taoiseach that gave us the five-year term, a great relief for Senators. When I started out as a Member of this House in 1982, there were three general elections and three Seanad elections held in the space of 17 months. One can imagine the difficulties and the amount of work done by any Member of Parliament in that period.

This country has been a much better place because of Deputy Ahern's stewardship as Taoiseach over the past 11 years. So much has been achieved. Ireland under his leadership has experienced unprecedented economic prosperity. A sign of this prosperity is that one third of all income earners are outside the tax net compared with a little more than one quarter in 1997. In 1997 and 1998, 384,000 earners were exempt from tax and today, thankfully, the number of earners outside the tax net is 878,000. The social welfare budget has trebled since 1997 and this prosperity has also enabled the Government to place special emphasis on the need to develop Ireland's infrastructure, which is seeing an investment of €10 million per day.

Our economic growth averaged 7% over the past ten years, compared to 3% of our EU partners. This has contributed to unemployment being cut from 11% to 5%, a significant achievement for a country with a history of soaring emigration and high unemployment. The Taoiseach will remember the difficulties experienced in 1987 when he was Minister for Labour, with high emigration and unemployment.

Our prosperity is a direct result of the diligence and commitment shown by Deputy Ahern as Taoiseach and leader of the Government. He planned and implemented an economic, social and political course for this country during the past 11 years. It is the Taoiseach's political judgment, determination and conciliatory manner that enabled him and his Government to shape the Ireland we live in today and to use our membership of the European Union to assist the transformation of our economy. History will rightly remember the Taoiseach for the way in which he has led the State's economic transformation, for his achievements during Ireland's successful EU presidency in 2004, for the outreach of the Government to the Irish community in Britain and beyond and, above all, for the skills and tenacity with which he has driven forward the peace process.

Whether in the United States of America, China, India — where he so successfully led the trade mission as part of which I had the honour and privilege of representing this House — Brussels, Northern Ireland, the Houses of the Oireachtas or anywhere in the State, it has been our privilege and pleasure to observe the unrivalled standards of statesmanship and political skill that have made the Taoiseach one of the most highly respected statesmen in the world. It has been a pleasure and honour to work with him. On my behalf, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party in this House and on behalf of my colleagues on all sides of the House, I wish him a long life, happiness and success. It is a privilege to have served under his inspired leadership. Go raibh maith agat, a Thaoisigh.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Taoiseach to the House and thank him for the honour he is bestowing on the Seanad in delivering his last Oireachtas address as Taoiseach in this Chamber. It is an important occasion on which we put attack politics to one side. There will be no arguments and nothing grudging. Observers of our political system are more used to adversarial politics, the politics of debate and discourse which involve an Opposition holding the Government to account. Today, however, is not a day for that. While my party disagrees with the Taoiseach on many issues, including the health service, education, tackling crime and managing public services, it is apt that his statement centres on two issues, both of great importance to this nation, on which we have worked and continue to work with him. These are the Good Friday Agreement and the peace it has brought to this island, North and South, and the Lisbon treaty.

The leader of the Fine Gael Party spoke yesterday about the traits that have allowed the Taoiseach to make his mark as a unique contributor to Irish political life. Deputy Kenny referred in particular to the Taoiseach's diligence. This means more than getting up early in the morning and working until late at night. It means the grace under the pressure the Taoiseach displayed the week of his mother's death. No one would have reproached him had he removed himself from the peace process negotiations that Holy Week. Everyone would have accepted and understood that someone who had always been so close to his mother, who had never paraded but never concealed his great love and admiration for her, might need privacy and peace in which to grieve. However, the Taoiseach had a broader commitment to the many families deeply grieved over many years by the carnage in Northern Ireland. His commitment was to the ending of a cruel conflict if it could be ended. He went to the North that Holy Week and worked day and night in the interests of peace. It was a much sought after peace, a peace worked for by his predecessors of all political hues. The Taoiseach's actions were those of a politician with a sense of duty to the future.

That sense of duty to the future has also been shown in the Taoiseach's commitment to the idea of a union of European nations. He steered a successful European presidency in 2004, which demonstrated his deal-making capacities and illustrated the role Ireland can play at the heart of Europe. As we face into a referendum on the future of Europe, we have worked with the Taoiseach towards the passage of the Lisbon treaty which will ensure Ireland's continued position at the core of the European Union. Our country has gained enormously from its membership of the EU. The State has a competence and confidence it would never have had without that membership. The Taoiseach will agree the European Union has the same roots as the Good Friday Agreement. It is rooted in the belief that war is preventable, life is precious and concentrated, diligent work towards co-operation within a wider Europe will make the EU a profoundly effective means of ensuring peace in our time and for our children.

The Taoiseach's work for peace is arguably the single most important task he has undertaken in all his years in politics and should be a source of continuing pride to him in his retirement. His legendary work rate and ability to work effectively with others is known to all. Today is a day when we thank the Taoiseach for his service, efforts and commitment. We also thank his family and friends because we know that politics takes its toll on personal time with loved ones. We thank the Taoiseach for his public service to this country.

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Green Party)
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The Taoiseach's presence today allows us to acknowledge his ongoing public service on behalf of the State. He has spoken on two issues that are important for the future success of the country, and his role in both must be acknowledged. It is for the electorate to adjudicate on the Lisbon reform treaty. The Taoiseach's role, under Ireland's Presidency of the EU, in securing agreement on a draft constitutional treaty of Europe requires special acknowledgment. It is something to which the EU may yet return. Much of the confusion that still exists about the functions and structures of the EU could have been dealt with more adequately by the Taoiseach's work in producing a single document that was easily understood than via subsequent developments. I am certain the European Union will return to that work.

The Taoiseach's success in developing the Northern Ireland peace process deserves repeated acknowledgement in terms of the political history of the State. That it was done at great personal cost in terms of family life adds to the debt the country owes him.

The Taoiseach deserves great credit too for his work on the social partnership process. Several partnership agreements have been devised through his skills in conciliation and his brokerage. Several important social documents have been produced which brought about greater cohesion and economic success. The Taoiseach has perfected a model that all in public life must seek to emulate if we are to ensure this State's continued success.

The Taoiseach showed his political skills too in developing his party as a party of Government and in ensuring Government was about compromises and working with others to agree programmes for Government that were in the best interests of the State. In 2007, the Taoiseach made the decision to bring my party into negotiations with his party to form a new Government. He has undertaken the same process in respect of other political parties in this Chamber. It is another of his notable political achievements that future Governments will be built upon that consensus model. The State can only operate effectively by achieving that level of agreement.

The Taoiseach has had an impressive political tenure with more than 30 years as a Deputy, several years as a Minister and 11 years as Head of Government. He was remarkably young when he became involved in politics. I was 12 years old when he entered Dublin Corporation and 14 years old when he was first elected to Dáil Éireann. Despite this, our political lives have seemed to intersect at significant times in the life of this State. Before I had the honour of being a Member of either House, the Taoiseach gave me the honour, through the social partnership process, of being appointed to and serving for several years on the National Economic and Social Council. That honour was added to when he appointed my colleague, Senator Déirdre de Búrca, and me to serve in this House as the first representatives of our party. I would like to highlight that the decision to bring the Green Party into government had to have been made by the Taoiseach, as an individual, based on the further needs of this country and the need to build on political co-operation and consensus. I may be selfish in thinking it might be seen to be the highest of his political achievements. There are many more to come. He is still a relatively young man, especially in political terms. I am certain he will continue to have a public service role on behalf of this country, perhaps in the international arena where he has gathered so much experience. That experience must be put to the best use for this country. Thank you, Taoiseach.

Photo of Pat MoylanPat Moylan (Fianna Fail)
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I call the leader of the Independent group, Senator O'Toole.

Photo of Joe O'TooleJoe O'Toole (Independent)
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I am sure the Taoiseach, whom I welcome to the House, understands better than most that the Independent group does not have a leader. I am speaking on behalf of my colleagues, particularly the father of the House, Senator Ross. We wish to be associated with the remarks that have been made so far.

I pay tribute to the Taoiseach's commitment and success in a number of areas, including his constituency, the State, the island and Europe. It all needs to be looked at. I have been aware of the Taoiseach's constituency work since I got involved in public life, just after he was elected. At that time, we were trying to deal with a difficult group of young teachers in a school in the Taoiseach's constituency. They had a particularly difficult leader, who is now making life difficult for the Taoiseach from the backbenches of the Dáil, where he is known as Deputy Finian McGrath. I remember the Taoiseach talking to me about Deputy McGrath in the late 1970s or early 1980s when he was looking for an extra teacher for the school in which he was teaching at the time. The Taoiseach has always had a great concern for his constituency. In those days, he was trying to get something moving in the area of school disadvantage. I pay tribute to the Taoiseach for leading the way in his party in terms of getting recognition for educational disadvantage.

It is poignant that today marks the first time that talks on a national agreement are taking place without my involvement or that of the Taoiseach. We hope they can carry on without us. I know they can do without me, but I am not sure they can do without the Taoiseach. I hope his wisdom will be available to them.

The key to the Taoiseach's character has been the trust he inspires in people and shows in them. I can think of many occasions on which he had to take a leap of faith. He had to accept the word of people like me. He did not mind having to make hard calls in various situations. I recognise his skill as a negotiator.

I pay tribute to the commitment and involvement you showed during your two terms as Minister for Labour. I recall talking to you on Leinster Lawn in 1989 as the then Taoiseach prepared to announce his new Cabinet. You intimated to me that you would not mind a move from the then Department of Labour. I said I would be quite happy if you stayed in that Department, which you did on that occasion. You were accessible at all times as you revised this country's policy in the labour area.

Many tributes have been paid to the Taoiseach over recent weeks. They will continue to be paid gan focal ráite agam mar gheall ar an obair atá déanta aige ó thaobh cúrsaí sa Tuaisceart agus cúrsaí na hEorpa. There is no point in me adding to such comments other than to recognise, as Senator Fitzgerald did, the skills shown by the Taoiseach during the negotiations which took place when Ireland held the EU Presidency. We all took pride in what the Taoiseach did during that high point in his career.

In paying tribute to the Taoiseach, it is worthwhile to mention that there are ups and downs in all political lives. I can say without hesitation or fear of contradiction that when the balance sheet is drawn up to reflect the course of the Taoiseach's political life, I have no doubt that what is on the credit side will far outweigh anything that might appear on the debit side.

Senators:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Joe O'TooleJoe O'Toole (Independent)
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I will conclude by taking issue, in a marginal way, with a line that appeared in the Taoiseach's speech, in which he described himself as "an Irish Nationalist in the republican tradition". I think he is selling himself short. I see him as a republican in the true and purest sense — a Tone republican with a vision of Catholic, Protestant and dissenter together in a country with a fair and equal society. That is how I have seen the Taoiseach in the years in which I have known him. It is for that I pay tribute to him today. Go n-éirí leat — I wish you well.

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Progressive Democrats)
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I also welcome the Taoiseach to the House. I extend my best wishes and the best wishes of my party to him as he spends his last few days in office. As Taoiseach, he has used his unique and extraordinary political ability for the great benefit of our country. His political skill, dedication and hard work have delivered historic and permanent political agreement and peace to the island of Ireland. It is most appropriate that one of the final events he will attend will be the opening of the new Boyne centre. Five years ago, few people would have thought such an event could take place. The Taoiseach has been central to the process which has brought us to the point at which it is possible.

As Senator Cassidy mentioned, the Taoiseach's political skill delivered 11 years of stable partnership Government. The stability of the coalition has brought about an unsurpassed economic performance and a higher standing for Ireland in the EU and internationally. I intend to maintain the strong, stable and fruitful relationship that has been built between the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil in recent years. The achievements of the Taoiseach, which I have mentioned, will be his permanent and lasting legacy.

All of us in this House entered public life in the hope of delivering improvements for the people in our communities. Few, if any, public representatives complete their public service with anything like the scale of the achievements attained on behalf of the people of Ireland by the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern. The Taoiseach, along with his family and his many friends and supporters, can be very proud of his service to this country. I wish him well in whatever role he chooses to adopt as he sees out his contribution to Irish and international politics.

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Labour)
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I join my colleagues in welcoming the Taoiseach to the Seanad this afternoon. I assure the Taoiseach that the atmosphere in this House is not always as calm as it may seem today. We have had our less peaceful moments here, even in recent weeks. We welcome the Taoiseach here and take this opportunity to wish him well in the future.

When I was trying to reflect on when I first heard the name "Bertie Ahern", I was brought back to my youth. Like Senator Boyle, I was 12 or 13 when I became aware of the man who was to become the Taoiseach. At the time when I was growing up, not too far from where the Taoiseach grew up, I had a keen interest in politics and current affairs. As young lads do, I used to have arguments about such matters with some of my friends who lived on the same road. I was a strong supporter of the Labour Party, even in those days. There was one guy who was fairly quiet, but with whom I could not get any measure of agreement. He would murmur something when we were having our initial discussions, before coming back to me the following day armed with many arguments illustrating why I was wrong and he was right. After this had happened three or four times, I decided to ask him where he was getting his inspiration from, 24 hours later. He told me he used to consult a friend of his in Drumcondra, Bertie Ahern, with whom he used to play football and do some work for Fianna Fáil. It is obvious that the Taoiseach inspired many young guys during that time. Some of the Taoiseach's leadership qualities and managerial skills, which have been much remarked upon over recent weeks, were probably honed in those years when he managed the All Hamptons team.

I am honoured to wish the Taoiseach well on behalf of the Labour Party in this House. His career has been an enormously successful one, without parallel in this country in the modern era. Other Senators have made points about his contribution to the Lisbon treaty and the North. I will come back to the North in a minute. Politicians in other parties, and perhaps in Fianna Fáil, can only marvel at the Taoiseach's incredible attention to detail. He seems to manage to be in many places at the same time. When I ran in Dublin South in last year's general election, my brother rang me from down town one Saturday morning to ask me the time at which we were going out canvassing. When I suggested that we should go out at11 a.m., on the basis that Saturday morning tends to be quite slow, he asked me if I was joking. He said he would call over to me immediately to get started because the Taoiseach had already called to his door, even though it was just 9.10 a.m. His ability to canvass and have his finger on the pulse locally while at the same time being involved in momentous national and international political events is truly astonishing. The Taoiseach's style was also commented on. Again, one can only stand back and wonder at his ability to turn adversity to his own advantage. I find it extraordinary.

I do not want to introduce any note of adversity into the debate but I believe it was Deputy Pat Rabbitte who stated that politics in this country may have reached the stage where the only central issue is who will dance with Fianna Fáil. It seems to be in the minds of some commentators. It is a pity if it is the case and I state that with all generosity to the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and my friends in Fianna Fáil. No country can afford to have its politics defined solely and forever by one political party. We as a society and a community need to understand this.

In response, the Taoiseach might state it is up to the Opposition parties to come up with a coherent alternative set of ideas, policies and proposals for the Irish people. This is right and I agree with it. It is what democracy is all about. No opposition can expect to remove a government simply because it has been there for so long. This is not a good enough basis for putting any government out of power. I freely accept this. However, I have a difficulty with big church politics or, if I may say so, big tent politics. I do not believe it will serve well the democracy the Taoiseach believes in so much.

I will finish my remarks by discussing the peace process because nobody can take from Bertie Ahern the extraordinary achievement for which he is responsible in respect of the North. The image of the bodies in the ditch announced on the nine o'clock news every night of the week when I was a young lad 20 or 30 years ago is gone from our public life. It is not an exaggeration but it is a bit of a cliché which must be repeated that there are people alive today who would not otherwise be were it not for the work of Bertie Ahern and others who brought the peace process to the stage it reached. It is important we reflect on this.

One of more unpleasant aspects of the 1990s was the fact that politicians such as Bertie Ahern, Dick Spring, Albert Reynolds and John Bruton had to withstand a major level of attack from some quarters for what they were doing. Sometimes they were told they were naïve for talking to Sinn Féin and that they were crossing a line they should not have crossed. They stood up for what they were doing and kept calm. They spoke to people to whom perhaps they did not rejoice in speaking. However, they did so because in the words of Fergus Finlay, they knew the principle of the penny candle applied. This meant the peace process talks were not worth a penny candle without the involvement of Sinn Féin.

During recent days I have been reminded of this stance while observing what Jimmy Carter is doing in the Middle East. He stated precisely the same about Hamas. Talks are not worth anything without Hamas whether we like it or not and many of us do not like it given what was perpetrated. Those talks will not come to a successful conclusion until someone some day talks to Hamas. We could have stated 15 years ago that the talks on the North would not come to fruition and be successful unless someone spoke to Sinn Féin. This is what was done and we all owe a large debt to the Taoiseach for the major success which flowed from it. Others were involved also but this is an important occasion on which to honour the Taoiseach's achievement.

I wish the Taoiseach well in his address to the Houses of Congress in the United States next week. I also wish him well on a personal level. I extend heartfelt best wishes to him and his family on his retirement from his current position.

Photo of Pat MoylanPat Moylan (Fianna Fail)
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I also join in the tributes to the Taoiseach as he steps down from office. He has made an enormous contribution to Irish political life and governance in his long career as a councillor, Deputy, Minister and Taoiseach. Who knows what further high office he may hold on a future date. Essentially, the Taoiseach is a man of the people but also a true statesman not only on the national front but also on the European and international stages. His negotiation skills were evident at an early stage in his career, especially as Minister for Labour during times of industrial unrest. Those skills also led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and ultimately to peace on our island.

His dedication, hard work and leadership qualities produced exceptional electoral success which gave rise to three consecutive terms in Government. On a personal note, I thank him for the honour bestowed on me in August 2002 when he included me as one of his 11 nominees to the 22nd Seanad. I wish the Taoiseach well, good health and fortitude in the years ahead.

Members rose.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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When is it proposed to sit again?

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Green Party)
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At 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 April.