David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This has been a remarkable week. It was a remarkable result and it is one I welcome. It would have been a tragedy had the referendum been passed on the tissue of lies, half-truths and cynicism presented by the Government. It would have undermined respect for democracy. It teaches us a lesson. When it became clear that it was completely wrong that the alleged figure of €20 million would be saved, I wrote to the Standards in Public Office Commission and the Referendum Commission. Both replied that it was outside their scope and that there was nothing they could do. It should be within someone's scope to stop deliberate lying during elections. This illustrates that we need, for that reason and because of the obscure way in which ballots were presented to the people, a permanent electoral commission to examine these matters and oversee such points. An examination of this referendum should be used as a template.

With regard to cynicism, I refer to the immediate volte-face by the Government, which had tried to bully the people by saying there was no alternative, that it was never going to be reformed and that it would not reform. Within hours of the result, the Government was talking about results. I am glad of that but it shows cynicism. The Government then attempted to dump all the blame on Deputy Richard Bruton. People should not put party before the country. The saddest thing is that the expensive exercise, costing €15 million, was attempted at a time when we are still in a moment of real economic crisis. To divide the country and set one House against the other was a grave mistake.

In addition to those of us who were visible, there were currents beneath the surface and some brilliant interventions. We were a small number of groups and individuals who took on a Government machine that was so powerful but that underestimated the intelligence of the Irish people. This is not a moment to gloat or to say "Well done" to everyone. We have been given a vote of confidence by those who voted in the referendum. Our real obligation is to them and to show them the valuable work we can do and have done in the past. I never once trashed Seanad Éireann and never said it was dysfunctional although, through the electoral process, it is. We have known for 30 years how that can be fixed. I know the work that is being done. Recently, there was something on RTE about fluoride. The debate started in this House, which never gets acknowledged. New photographic equipment is being introduced to stem the tide of social welfare fraud and to ensure the money goes to people who need it. One person made €450,000 by cheating. The Government got the idea of photographic identification from this House. Let us also make sure we communicate with the public what we have done and what we are doing. We must sell ourselves.

This was a dangerous referendum because it also sought to clip the powers of the Presidency, which was almost entirely overlooked. It was a power grab. The legislation, which is extremely valuable, contained elements I do not agree with and I look forward to saying that this evening.

I am not going to work for nothing; they must be joking. The talk about elitism and cutting the numbers by half was just a titbit to throw out to the public and it caught on very well. Last night, somebody on "Tonight with Vincent Browne" said, "I would agree if they worked for nothing." I say, "No bloody hope". Elitism would mean a House peopled by nobody but aristocrats and millionaires.