The Taoiseach is no Elvis; he might be more Daniel O'Donnell. I congratulate the Taoiseach on his term in office. His many years' experience as a parliamentarian have stood to him. He has been courteous and balanced, generally speaking, and has maximised, in an understated way, the art of the political announcement. I doubt there was ever a Taoiseach who was as successful at creating photo opportunities and making announcements. In fact, there were many announcements made by the Government that never got to the next stage, except for when the next stage was the re-announcement of projects, such as the MRI scanner in Wexford, the 96-bed ward for Wexford General Hospital or a new university campus for Wexford. I presume the new Taoiseach will announce all of those projects again when he comes back into office.

In saying that, I do not doubt the Taoiseach's commitment to public service and the office of An Taoiseach, nor do I doubt his sincerity. However, one thing that surprised me about him was his commitment to process rather than the delivery of projects, which is the hallmark of his Government. Many worthwhile projects are caught in political processes, which collapses their delivery.

One other thing that struck me was how the Taoiseach responded to the adverse findings by the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, in respect of a senior public official. Instead of giving teeth to that finding and ensuring accountability, the Taoiseach's Government undermined SIPO by appointing that public servant to a State board, he having had a most damning finding made against him. In light of the revelations today in the European Parliament as regards the scandal of breaches in ethics and standards, and having listened to the response of the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, does the Taoiseach agree that it is now time for him to do the following? Will he give a commitment when Tánaiste that he will overhaul our standards in public office legislation to enable it to give effect to findings, ensuring he can in future stand over best practice in both standards and ethics in public office and, where they are proven to be breached, ensure rigorous, meaningful accountability? In this area of public administration we need transparency in the process to produce an effective regime, not an internal job developed by people who will be subject to the new ethics regime and who have a vested interest in limiting independent oversight. We need accountability in the public service and the Civil Service, and now is that time.

I thank the Deputy for the introduction earlier, although I am a bit bemused that I have earned the title, apparently, of the most successful at creating photo opportunities. I think many colleagues all over the House will be disturbed that that accolade has been passed on to me. I assure the Deputy that anybody in the Government ranks who knows me knows I am all about delivery, not photo opportunities or process. I am a very impatient politician when it comes to moving from concept to reality and to getting things done.

As for South East Technological University, we now have five such institutions established, four, I think, during the term of this Government. That is putting concept into reality. We have been very active, particularly in respect of South East Technological University, which has been a long-running story but is so important to the economic, social and academic development of the south east more generally. The campus in Wexford is well in hand. I think Deputy Murphy and the Minister, Deputy Harris, know that. I will sound one general note of warning. All of us, politically, should be careful about chasing particular sites or land - I am not saying Deputy Murphy is doing so - because all that does is raise land values generally. The State should go in low-key when it wants to acquire land for education, health or whatever other purpose.

We are onto the third site in Wexford.

Yes, and the Deputy was Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and knows full well what I mean and would endorse everything I have said.

I allocated the money for it six years ago; it is still not bought.

It is Deputy Verona Murphy's time.

Never did the Taoiseach think he would have me to call on to rescue him.

That is called agility on the floor.

As for SIPO, I think Deputy Murphy has raised this issue over some time and I think I have been consistent in saying to her that no public official or CEO of a local authority should ever place conditions on or endeavour to influence the output of a local radio station. That is a very strong view I hold. That is fundamental to democracy. In other words, I am not saying that this happened in any given situation, but one cannot say that the consequence of one's having spent money on advertising and so on is that the station should somehow align with the views of the council or not be critical of the council. There has to be editorial independence at all times. SIPO made a judgment in that case and it fell to the county council to deal with it. We have a devolved system. We delegate to the local authorities. The Government does not have a role in a situation like that. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has engaged in a very comprehensive review of SIPO. He went out to public consultation. He has received numerous submissions. He brought the outcome of that to the Cabinet today. I wonder if there is some mental telepathy going on in the House in terms of Members' understanding of what was passed at the Government's meeting today. That was passed as well at the meeting today and approved by the Government to move now into not updating but fundamentally advancing the legislation underpinning SIPO into the future. That will eventually come to the House as well, and Deputy Murphy's input would be very much appreciated in that regard.

I wish the Taoiseach and his family well. I am sure they are very proud of him, and so they should be.

His departure is more a case of, "Hasta la vista, baby. I'll be back next week as the Tánaiste." He will appreciate that I must be careful about eulogising his time as Taoiseach because, as is the culture in the House, I will probably have to hold him to account next week.

I thank the Deputy.