Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

——but that is precisely what we are faced with. The point is that an unintended effect of the wonderful achievement of the Good Friday Agreement, in advancing the peace process on this island, is the opportunity for this sort of abuse. The Government owes a duty to the people of this island to put measures in place to stop the abuse. That is what this referendum is all about.

Why does it have to be done by referendum? Could the Government not just bring forward suitable amending legislation? The short answer, after a long cogitation, is "no".

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