Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

In 1830s and 1840s, Daniel O'Connell set up the Catholic and repeal rents which was collected outside church gates. At the time, the Catholic church was very involved in politics, something I am not on for at all — we have enough trouble as it is without that involvement. The O'Connell collection was the first step on the march to democracy. It meant people could affirm their allegiance to a political party and be proud of so doing at a place where most of the population was going for Sunday worship — perhaps that is not the case now as receipts from the national collection show. I do not understand how today's church gate collection can be deemed offensive. I believe it is an affirmative process and should be applauded for its involvement of people in politics. I was dismayed that any bishop could take it upon himself to deem political party collections outside church gates as unworthy.

See this speech in context