The minutes of the meeting held on 31 May have been circulated.
Before we start this morning's proceedings, I will state a few short words about the passing of former Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey. I personally had great admiration for him. He was a wonderful statesman and a highly intelligent Member of Parliament. He was a master politician.
He brought great changes to our country, particularly for the underprivileged such as old age pensioners and senior citizens. They are the people who gave us the Ireland we have today. He introduced reforming legislation on the lifestyle of women and gave them their rights, which had not been the case previously. He made his mark.
As a Member of the Oireachtas for a considerable time, his greatest economic achievement was bringing about with the trade union movement, particularly Michael Mullen, what we know today as the national understanding. Trade unions, employers, the Government, farmers and everyone creating jobs in Ireland were brought around the same table. It is the cornerstone on which we built our economy and transformed our nation during the past 20 years. As the Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Enterprise and Small Business, I acknowledge the major part he played. He will be remembered for many projects, and his vision and determination have left their mark on projects such as Knock Airport, Government Buildings, the financial services centre and Temple Bar.
On a personal basis, I am privileged to be the only person in the history of Fianna Fáil to be nominated by the leader of the party to stand as a candidate for Seanad Éireann. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for playing a major part in my selection and election to Seanad Éireann for 20 years, and this, my first time in Dáil Éireann. I also had the privilege of being one of three campaign managers on the road for five general election campaigns.
To me, Charlie Haughey was always concerned with the big picture, the long-term plan and he was the man who could get things done. As an old friend said to me last night, when people who are near and dear to one live in one's heart they will never die.
I extend our sympathy to his wife Maureen, his three sons, particularly Seán, who is a Member of the Oireachtas and with whom I had the privilege of sharing an office for more than five years in the Seanad, his daughter Eimear, his brothers Seán and Fr. Eoghan, who is a great friend of many people in the Oireachtas, and his sister Maureen.
