Vol. 333 No. 6
I should like to announce for the information of the House that the Government have nominated Mr. Richard Burke to be a member of the Commission of the European Communities. I know that all Members of the House will join with me in wishing him every success in his new office.
I wish on this occasion to pay tribute to Deputy Michael O'Kennedy for the dedication and service he had given so ably during his period as Commissioner.
I should like to join the Taoiseach in congratulating Mr. Burke and wishing him a successful and happy completion of the term not completed by Deputy Michael O'Kennedy as Commissioner in Europe on behalf of this country. I am certain that all Members of this House will recognise Mr. Burke's abilities and also recognise that his previous term as Commissioner was extremely successful. Whatever the circumstances of his appointment and whatever the disappointment of some Members opposite at not getting the job, we would certainly hope that his term would be extremely successful on behalf of this country.
On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish Mr. Burke well in the discharge of his duties as the new Irish Commissioner.
