Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I agree. However, the degree of annoyance expressed by some of his colleagues at the time was significant. However, giving someone a nomination hardly shows annoyance. The amendment introduced by the previous Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government obviously created an anomaly. That the judgment in the Kelly case was delivered the day before the general election meant that all the then serving Members of the House and all the candidates had to go through the election campaign not knowing what the outcome would be. They had a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads for the duration of the election campaign. I do not believe that is democracy.

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