I, too, congratulate Senator David Norris. Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú has worded my point very well. The election of Pope Francis represents a new beginning. We have heard words today from everybody and there is a sense of hope. This has been brought about by the demeanour and sympathetic manner of the new Pope. He showed this when he was elected yesterday. It gives us a chance of a new beginning. Therefore, I support entirely what Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú said. This is our opportunity to reopen the embassy in the Vatican. It is exactly the time we should do so. We should show our response to what Pope Francis has done.

Comments were made last night about the age of Pope Francis and it was suggested he might be a little too old. I discovered, however, that he was born 20 days after me; therefore, any suggestion he is a little too old is being rejected entirely by me and I hope by others also. There is a lot of life left in that old dog yet and in this one, too. In the context of discussions about age, I draw the attention of the House to figures published yesterday which indicate that the life expectancy for males in Ireland is shorter than in a number of other European countries. Life expectancy for males here is 77 years, but it is beyond 79 years in at least seven other European countries, including Iceland, Italy, Sweden, Malta and Switzerland, among others. These figures were published by the World Health Organization and represent a challenge for the Department of Health. When I came into this House first, there was a huge number of road deaths every year, but the country grabbed hold of that problem. Various Ministers rose to the challenge and as a nation we decided we would do something about it. That required a change of attitude and behaviour and the number of road deaths has reduced dramatically as a result. We must now set a challenge for ourselves vis-à-vis life expectancy in Ireland, particularly for males. We have a shorter life expectancy than in a number of other countries and we can do something about this.

Although the new Pope is less than 24 hours in office, his election has had an enormous impact already, as is obvious in the House this morning. When I saw his demeanour last night and heard his opening remarks, it struck me that he was a Christ-like figure. He is a man who came from very humble origins, renounced the trappings of power and mixed with the poor. I understand he advised friends last night not to travel to Rome to celebrate but to give the cost of such travel to the poor. He has set the agenda for a very reforming and progressive papacy. I join my colleagues in wishing him well and welcoming his appointment. I was a little concerned about the fact that he is 76 years of age, but, like Senator Feargal Quinn, he has much to contribute. He might be well advised to read some of the Senator's publications, which could set him on the right road. His is an inspired appointment and I look forward to him reforming the church. In a way he is taking on a challenge similar to that faced by many governments around the world. He is faced with rescuing the church from the difficulties of recent years, the scandals, financial irregularities, the fall in membership and the loss of confidence among the faithful. The initial response to his appointment has been overwhelmingly positive throughout the world and I hope the new Pope will build on this.

This weekend represents a fantastic opportunity for Ireland to sell itself around the world and I wish various Ministers, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste well in their travels to publicise and promote the country. I hope, as the economy picks up, the aspiration of some of my colleagues on the other side of the House that the embassy in Rome is reopened, as part of the healing process, will be realised. I wish everyone in the House the very best for St. Patrick's Day and hope it is a safe and enjoyable occasion for everybody.