Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

It is a sign of revival and of hope for the future. I take no advice from any quarter on that issue because I was born and raised in a rural area. I do not wish to see a situation as pertained in eastern Europe when the communists took over after the Second World War. They scooped all the people out of the rural areas and built tower blocks for them beside the cities and towns in order to control them. I see a little of that attitude beginning to emerge in this country and I do not like it.

Reference has been made to the PR system. I believe in the PR system. It is the finest possible method for achieving democracy. I do not agree with the notion that it should be further refined and improved because this has been done in the past. Many commentators question the reason people do not vote and I can suggest a reason. Some years ago the Government — I think it was a Government from the other side of the House — decided to ——

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