Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)

People do not generally kill because of business failure but they do because of the failure of politics. Thirty years of mayhem in Northern Ireland should teach us that. What happened in two world wars on the continent of Europe, when 60 million Europeans died in the first half of the last century, is the starkest reminder of what happens when politics fail. It is time for politicians to stand up for politics.

Look what happened in this country with the first Nice treaty referendum, when politicians did not motivate the volunteer members of their organisations, those who do a huge public service by voluntary contribution in good times and bad.

See this speech in context