John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I have no intention of delivering a dissertation on pluralism or of pluralists, but it is necessary that I refer to these matters given that there has been an attempt in recent months by self-styled pluralists to hijack this debate. It is instructive in this respect for the House and the people of this country to recall the father of Irish pluralism, a man described by one historian as "an Irishman who strolled across the pages of European history as a colossus". Daniel O'Connell was in love with hunting and once said, speaking of hares and beagles: "The hares are strong and numerous and I hunt every day with nine couples and a half of the first and best beagles in the world, beyond the reach of politics."

O'Connell's pluralism is quite different to the self-styled mutterings of so-called pluralists which emanate from the cappuccino bars of Dublin 4.

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