Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am delighted to be able to speak on this motion. As with the previous speakers, I am very pleased Deputy Richard Bruton has put this motion before the House because it provides us with several opportunities. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, to the House. He has been a supporter of the Government, for which I admire him. We are affording his colleague, Deputy Mattie McGrath, an opportunity. He proposed a motion at the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party and could not get a seconder. He will have no need for a seconder in the Dáil. All he needs to do is to walk up the steps with us or vote with us tomorrow night and I hope he will do so. I have no doubt he will do so. I hope he will not be a lion in the constituency but a mouse in the Dáil. I trust that will not be the case. I will be watching him very carefully tomorrow night, as will the Minister of State.

I know he will vote with us because he knows this is wrong and on this I compliment him. He knows it is wrong, I know it is wrong and Fine Gael knows it is wrong. This is why we are affording an opportunity to Deputy Mattie McGrath, any other Fianna Fáil backbencher or anyone else who has concerns about this matter to vote on this motion.

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