INDEPENDENT TONY Gregory, Dublin Central, urged Brian Cowen to end the “divisive inequalities” in Irish society.
“It is my view that the increasing social inequality of recent years is the major issue facing all of us elected by the people to this House,” he added.
Mr Gregory thanked Bertie Ahern “for his recent kind words regarding my health”. Mr Gregory noted that his late mother was born and reared in Offaly, and he had spent his childhood holidays on a small farm on the edge of the Bog of Allen, in the shadow of Croughan hill.
“I welcome the fact that Offaly will shortly have the great honour, for the first time, of being the home county of a Taoiseach. Of course, this does not mean that I intend voting for Deputy Cowen.”
Independent Jackie Healy-Rae, Kerry South, in an apparent reference to Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, said he hoped Mr Cowen would “take his coat off, so he will have nothing on but his shirt, and come down to south Kerry to help me with potholes”.
He added: “The truth is, since he put that jacket on I have been awfully frightened down below. That is God’s honest truth. If Brian would give me a hearing this evening, I would be delighted if he would pull off his coat, give it to another fellow and come down to south Kerry to help me.”
