Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

People have bandied the word patriotism around this House, but what it means to people is that their patriotism can assist us in a practical way to get through this difficult period. I do not say this in an effort to achieve some short-term political dividend or to get us out of the hole in which we find ourselves. I say it because all of us must contribute to some extent. I know that patriotism is not a clear concept to some people and that it is being used in a glib and trite way.

The discussion we have had within Fianna Fáil has been very useful. I was a backbencher until recently and was not afraid to throw the rattle out of the pram once in a while. It is a perfectly valid part of the armoury of a backbencher to do that from time to time.

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