Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

We could even deal with the Government backbenchers who have moved from being disgruntled to being gentle and loving and who are cooing admiration for their colleagues in government.

I recall when Members on this side used to pity the poor Progressive Democrats, particularly when we were concerned about their existence. We were of the view that, engulfed as they were in the massive embrace of Fianna Fáil, there could be only one outcome for them. It seems we were right because that is how matters have begun to unfold. However, now the poor Green Party is caught in that embrace. Not only are the members of the Green Party enjoying snuggling and licking up to Fianna Fáil, they do not realise that, even as they do so, the life is being sucked out of them. Slowly but surely they are being strangled.

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