Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister mentioned good or decent barristers and I would not claim to be either, but I was called to the Bar.

"Reasonable" has a very different meaning to that which the Minister has ascribed to the word. "Reasonable" does not mean what one thought was reasonable. A "reasonable man" test is fairly common in law and means what an ordinary person would believe to be reasonable. This issue concerns cats but is largely about straying animals as well. If we know cats are prone to wander and one must take all necessary steps to keep the cat safe, one cannot let the cat out. Neither I nor Deputy Ó Cuív is a scientist, although he might surprise me by claiming to be one, but both of us and the Minister know that cats are inclined to wander. I accept that the matter concerns farm animals.