Denis O'Donovan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

We are looking at a guillotine which has been agreed by the House, of which I am not particularly enamoured. In light of the history of the guillotine, its connections with Maximilien Robespierre and its role in the French Revolution, I am reminded of a story about a Frenchman, an Englishman and an Irishman who were sentenced to death by the guillotine. If for any reason, the guillotine failed to decapitate the prisoner, he or she was pardoned. On the day scheduled for the three men's execution, the blade of the guillotine stopped approximately one and a half inches above the Frenchman's neck and he was, therefore, pardoned and delighted to escape certain death. The same scenario occurred with the Englishman and he was pardoned. The Irishman was next to face the guillotine. As he lay back and looked up at the blade and waited for Robespierre or one of his allies to pull the rope, he said "Hold on, now I see what's making it stick". I can see what is making this Bill stick in respect of the administrative fines.

See this speech in context