Mar atá ráite ag an Taoiseach, tá tábhacht faoi leith ag baint le cumas iomaíochta na tíre. I very much welcome the outline or blueprint that has been given in the Government's response to the competitiveness challenge. I will focus on two chapters of that report where focus is needed over the coming years. The first is with regard to the role of SMEs. I am proud to be a member of the board of Ace Enterprise Park, which focuses on start-ups in the broader Clondalkin, Bawnogue and Neilstown area, but an issue is com…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I dtosach, is mian liom gach rath a ghuí ar an Tánaiste agus é ag toiseacht amach mar Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha. I look forward to working with the Tánaiste and to many engagements in the House. My question is on the Tánaiste's recent engagement with political leaders in Northern Ireland. I note his optimism about the first meetings of the new North-South Ministerial Council. A particular issue I would love for the Tánaiste to make sure is on the agenda for the North-South M…

I thank the Tánaiste for that reply. I am very encouraged by the commitment he has made to follow up on the funding for Foras na Gaeilge and indeed all the all-island bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. I am particularly optimistic now that we have the restoration of the institutions in Northern Ireland that we will see the full mechanisms of the Good Friday Agreement, and subsequent agreements, come into their own. This is necessary in realising the many challenges we face between Britain and Irela…

I thank the Tánaiste. I re-emphasise the very practical examples he has shown from the shared island unit. These initiatives will set the foundations that were originally envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement all those years ago. I am particularly encouraged by the strong approach the Government is taking with regard to victims and legacy issues and ensuring that those things are compliant with international law. As the Tánaiste has said, it is most important for these initiatives to bring victims' families with t…

Is mór agam labhairt i Seomra na Dála don chéad uair inniu agus is mór an onóir dom í bheith anseo thar ceann an phobail a roghnaigh mé mar Theachta Dála. It is a great honour to speak in this Chamber for the first time as a TD for Dublin Mid-West. I want to thank my family, especially my wife, Teresa, our three boys and my Dad Jimmy. I am thinking especially of my late Mam today. I am eternally grateful to my loyal supporters and, most important, my constituents for placing their trust in me. That trust is not som…