Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy forgot to mention that the Government was aware of the difficulty and the issue was included in the programme for Government. I know this was an issue at the last general election and it is an issue now. It was signalled in the programme for Government that the Government would take action on it. To level the accusation now that it is being done as a short stop-gap measure coming up to the local election is unfounded.

There is no doubt the provisions in the Constitution, as amended in 1999, have been abused to a greater or lesser extent. I cannot say with my hand on my heart the extent of the abuse but I know there is abuse.

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