Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

This is an important matter. I am proud to support Deputy Bertie Ahern, and will do so in the vote tonight. It is what my constituents want me to do. As other colleagues stated, people do not want us to debate this issue. They want us to discuss issues of concern to them. I was impressed by the three Independent Deputies on the radio this morning, namely, Deputies Finian McGrath, Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry — a good man — who put the entire matter into perspective. As this week wears on we will find people want us to debate matters such as cancer services in Tallaght which is what I want to discuss. It was put up to us and Fianna Fáil will stand squarely behind the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern. I will vote confidence in him and am happy and proud to do so.

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