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  Buíochas le Peter agus Heather do na focail chineálta.   I accept this nomination to serve as Taoiseach and I commit to doing everything I can to honour the trust so many have shown in me.   I want to thank my own party, Fine Gael, and also our partners in Government, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, for their confidence, and also the independent TDs who supported my nomination.   This is a partnership government and I will lead it in a spirit of unity, collaboration, and mutual respect.   Today, I want to pay tribute to our outgoing Taoiseach, my colleague and friend, Leo Varadkar. The history books will record the incredible service he did for our country dealing with some of the biggest challenges of our time, most notably Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.   History will also record that he was a trailblazer as we broke free from some of the worst prejudices of the past, showing Ireland at its best to the world.   I also want to pay tribute to my friend and colleague Simon Coveney, who is stepping down as a Minister after serving our country with distinction in so many different roles over so many years.   In particular, we will never forget all that he did during the darkest days of Brexit, and today we acknowledge all he has contributed to our country, and I know that he will continue to contribute.   Today is a very special day for me. When I started campaigning on issues close to my heart and got involved in politics, I chose this life. My family did not, but through every step of the journey, they have supported me without question.   I want to particularly thank my parents Mary and Bart, who are here today.   They have been my driving force, often making personal sacrifices to ensure the success of their three children.   I hope they can be proud today of their eldest son, because I would not be standing here were it not for them.   I want to thank my sister Gemma and my brother Adam.They are my best friends. We are each other’s biggest supporters. I also want to thank my Nana, who is here today.   My biggest thank you goes to my wife Caoimhe, who is my rock and an incredible mother to our two beautiful children.And lastly to my children Saoirse and Cillian, who mean the absolute world to me: I promise being your dad will remain my most important job.   It is 13 years since I made my maiden speech in this chamber to nominate Enda Kenny as Taoiseach, someone who went on to fulfil the considerable faith that so many of us had him in, as he led a Government that rescued our economy, and restored our sovereignty.   Back then I reflected on what values I thought were needed for the job in hand: integrity, honesty and a work rate which cannot be surpassed.   As Taoiseach I will demand of myself what I saw as so important then and – to return to the words I spoke that day – I promise ‘to preside over a government committed to public service, at a time when such commitment is so urgently required’.   I believed then that a Taoiseach should work every day to realise ‘the hopes, dreams and aspirations of our people’.  I still do.   Today I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved.   As Taoiseach I want to bring new ideas, a new energy, and a new empathy to public life. But politics is not about the office holder. This is not about me; it’s about all of us working together to serve the people.   We as a people, we as a country, have over the last 100 years worked tirelessly together to create our own future. Collectively, this country can and should be proud of the progress it has made.   The number of people with a job is higher than ever before. The number of people accessing education is amongst the highest in Europe.   But now is an opportune time to build a new social contract – one which renews our promise as a Republic. To create equality of opportunity. To support those who need the State the most. To protect our hard-earned economic success. To use its benefits to deliver tangible outcomes to society.   Time is short and there is lots to do.   Housing remains the greatest societal and economic challenge of our generation.   Today, I recommit to moving mountains to help build more homes and drive more home ownership.   I will work tirelessly to support the delivery of Sláintecare and will prioritise the delivery of mental health services, and a step change in how we care for our older people.   I want to work with colleagues across