Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I thank all Members who contributed to the debate on the Bill. As I stated at the outset, it afforded us a three-hour opportunity to discuss the greyhound industry. Unfortunately, the Government side took a negative approach to what I am trying to do. Apart from the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, the majority of them were on message, came with prepared scripts and all made similar statements. They did not at any stage address the Bill or its contents. They had one mission, namely, to ridicule the Bill, make it appear irrelevant and accuse me of being mischievous and opportunistic.

I will outline the background to this Bill. I have been a Member for a long period and I do not get excited by taunts from the other side of the House. Normally, I do not make utter such taunts. I do not believe in that type of politics. However, it is in the Fianna Fáil philosophy that one should get one's retaliation in first. It deals with the Opposition and then its own. I accept that is the type of bloodsport in which members of that part engage.

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