Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

If the matter is to be put to the people along with a presidential election — about which there is a great doubt as there is no indication yet of any opposing candidate — there is the potential to skew the debate in a most unfair fashion, with the incumbent constrained by office to maintain a proper reserve on matters of political controversy while her opponents would be as free to shout as long and as loud as they liked on one or other side of the issue.

See this speech in context