Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

——and stand up for the State against those trying to damage it.

I entirely agree with Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's comment on recent remarks by Deputy Ferris. It is totally inappropriate for any person to say regarding an offence subject to investigation by the Garda Síochána that people should withhold information. Deputies Ferris and Ó Snodaigh are no exceptions to the rule that one sits in this House only as a citizen of the State. No one not a citizen is so entitled. Under Article 9 of the Constitution, all citizens owe this State a fundamental duty of loyalty. If one does not like that, one should not be in this House. If one believes in the duty of loyalty to the State, one must assist its forces in investigating serious crime.

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