Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I believe very strongly in this proposal and that it is reasonable. I will not go into the matter any further. I have listened with an open mind to much of the criticism that has been directed at it. Much of this criticism is conservatism, which defies common sense. It is simply a desire to leave everything as it is and a belief that everything is perfect as it is when this is not the case and where juries, properly instructed under the present law, must be told not to draw an inference in particular circumstances where anybody trying to apply common sense to the facts of a case would draw such an inference. That is all this proposal is about.

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