Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing climate change - this means reducing emissions, adapting to impacts, and enhancing and improving carbon sinks.

By far, the greatest contribution Ireland can make is to lead by example, by actively pursuing its own transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

I am proud that Ireland is playing its part to drive an ambitious and comprehensive agreement at COP21.

Failure to curb temperature increases will impact all countries, Ireland included, but with the most immediate and drastic effects being felt, in many instances, by the most vulnerable countries and communities.

The Seanad question was one element of a process of change and reform to politics that government has been pursuing.

I accept the verdict of the people.

Sometimes in politics, you get a wallop in the electoral process.

Populist promises to reverse every tough decision are nothing but empty rhetoric, irresponsible leadership, and bad politics. They are not the solution to Ireland's problems.

To me, the real opinion polls are the tangible facts: the growing creation of jobs, the number of planning permissions, the number of commercial vans being sold - the signs that the Irish people are regaining confidence.

We'll look after the people who create jobs and business and give them that opportunity to grow in the time ahead.

We'll look after our hospitals. We'll look after our schools. We'll look after our infrastructure.

I now know what to do; I know how decisions can be made. I know how you can drive ministers and their departments to actually make decisions and bring results.

I didn't go on a campaign of developers asking, 'Please give me money.'

I have never been on the trail of developers or contractors.

By 2007, an uncompetitive, bloated, over-borrowed and distorted Irish economy had been left at the mercy of subsequent international events without the safeguards, institutions, and mindset needed to survive and prosper as a small open economy inside the euro area.

In Ireland here, the Revenue Commission have always been completely independent of the state since 1923, and they are quite adamant and quite clear that there was no preferential treatment and no special deals, no sweetheart deals, and that Apple paid the taxes that were due on their profits generated here in this country.

You need to talk to people, and you need to hear what it is they have to say.

My job starts at a quarter to seven in the morning, and you go right through until whatever time is necessary to finish up.

What I do like is action, achievements, and results. Getting things done.

There will be no hard border from Dundalk to Derry in the context of it being a European border, and by that I mean customs posts every mile along the road.

I have no interest in the trappings of power.

I don't like to see people on trolleys in hospitals; I don't like to see old people sitting in chairs for hours.

I just think that the older you get, the more you appreciate the responsibility of politics.

I would never accuse the Irish people of being in any way stupid.