Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I am grateful but the Senator will see the justice of my position. She may be satisfied that I will conclude with a quotation from a member of her party: "The joint committee's eventual wording was widely accepted as being a sensible and balanced amendment." I have endeavoured, in my amendment, to reintroduce this wording into the text of the amendment Bill. It is such a pity then that the Government has seen fit to amend the wording of the final subsection that was arrived at after such careful consideration. Instead it asks us to take what Donncha O'Connell, NUIG, whom I believe to be a member of the Labour Party, writing in The Irish Times last week called "frankly a rather Olympian leap of faith".

In conclusion, I ask the House to ponder seriously whether this Bill lives up to the ideals of fair play and justice to which Ireland is committed. Equally, it should ask itself whether the commission of investigation we brought to life a short seven years ago, and has done so much good since, might not be the best way forward if there is need for a public inquiry.