David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not mind. That is an affectionate term of derision and not actionable. I am very careful about that because I am litigious myself.

We should be pushing the idea that our health and safety authorities are superb. They were the first ones to spot it. Europe should be down on its knees thanking us. That is the positive angle we should put on it. We were the first to discover it - well done to our scientists in that agency. We should laugh off such remarks. I was not the slightest bit upset and thought people got far too excited over it.

The recent opinion survey suggested that the desire for a united Ireland had dwindled significantly. Does the delegation believe there is an economic aspect to that? Our Northern counterparts have a reputation for being hard-headed, practical and realistic. I am not sure if this is always true but they have that reputation. I wonder if they look down and say "Well, they are in a bit of a mess - not much point in joining with them." Does the delegation think there is a financial angle to that?

Irish workers now include engineers and architects in many of these railway and engineering projects - the tradition has been that described in "McAlpine's Fusiliers". They did remarkable work. I only regret that they are not here in Dublin building the metro. I hope that when we present a plan for a budget-neutral, rejigged metro to the Government, which I have been involved in, it will go ahead with it because it missed the boat with the Matsui Corporation, which would have put it in for nothing. The Government just lost its nerve, which was appalling. Does the delegation think the metro with the spur out to the airport would be of any significance in terms of good relations? There are people who want to come across for a day to attend business meetings and so on.