John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I really warmly welcome the Minister, Deputy Kelly. Minister of State, Deputy Coffey informed us yesterday that the Minister was seriously examining the issue that has arisen with respect to the SSNO grant from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. It was encouraging, cheering and heartwarming to hear this will be considered. Nobody here believes that the Minister, or any other, operates in an economic vacuum, and we understand that for every cent spent on one thing, there is an opportunity cost such that it cannot be spent on another. I was asked to raise the issue. The response I got was one of the more positive ones I have received. It was nice to hear one that did not give the usual turgid, Civil Service reason the Department must sadly say "No".

I am not really a politician. What I do here comprises approximately 45% of my life. I still think of my day job as the big job. However, I revere democracy and the process of democracy. One does not have to read the newspapers to learn how gruesome all the alternatives are and how much democracy can be under threat in so many parts of the world. It is in this regard that I found myself in an awkward set of circumstances, somewhat similar to that experienced by Senator Byrne and, I suspect, other individuals on this side of the House. I do not want to stop an election but I will not support this Bill. The Bill will pass and mine will be a protest vote. I will outline why I must oppose it. First, we hear that the original legislation that requires amending has been around since 1947. Perhaps a little lesson is to be learned regarding the alacrity with which we spot deficiencies in our legislation if we are now considering legislation that was passed when Truman was US President, Pope Pius XII was Pope and Stalin was still in the big office beside Red Square. Things need to move a little faster.