Dr. Barry Colfer:

Indeed, but he had also promised before being elected that he would hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty and he reneged on that promise, saying it was too late, which in fairness to him, it probably was. The Deputy is correct.

The big one is easy to say and hard to do. In Ireland we still enjoy a robust and rich public space. We are often contacted by think-tanks and academics in other places asking about our tradition of citizens' assemblies. It is sensitive to say so in this room, but we have a strong public broadcaster. We are looking at regulating artificial intelligence, AI, and other things we have to do to try to protect what we have.

I think I am agreeing with what the Deputy said when I say we have to include citizens and try to advance how we engage with them, rather than trying to avoid them. We do so at our peril.