Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I also wish to thank the people in Ireland, who are here this morning, for enlightening us with regard to their experience.
With your permission, and perhaps you will find that I am dwelling on this, I would like to come back to the first questions put by Mr. Savage because I believe they are crucial for us. Indeed, what we understand is that you have chosen to combat poverty and at one point in time decided to say that enough is enough and that you were taking position in a fight against poverty.
From what I have read, this was not the first time. You have lived through crises in the past. There have also been debates by the Irish government with regard to this issue in the past. From what I have been able to see, your route has been roughly the same as the one we have followed here. In 1990, for example, there were agreements and commitments to combat poverty. There have, indeed, been measures, but there has been no global strategy like yours, delivering the results we see today. I therefore come back to that.
I do not know who among you will answer, but it seems to me that in 1997, or perhaps before, something took place that was akin to a spark. The answers you have provided are answers that are based upon an analysis, objective facts, but that you also had in the past. However, with regard to the political engagement, it seems that something happened that to some extent sparked a flame and told you that the time had come for you to act.