Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I apologise to Deputy Morgan. I include Sinn Féin in my remarks. Although I disagree with its assessment of what we can and need to do within the four-year period, and with some of the protest approaches, I acknowledge there is room for different opinions in this regard, and for the views of Independents.

In this most fearful and difficult time for our country, it is important that we begin by establishing ground rules of respect for one another. People are looking for these and want us to offer them reassurance and security, which they and we all do not have at present. We all know in our hearts that this is a very challenging and difficult time. We need to address that. We have a duty of care to the people to try to minimise the sense of fear and manage a very difficult set of circumstances.

We need to protect the people in a number of ways. We need responsible debate in the House. The members of the media present should note that we need responsible debate in the media at this time on these complex and difficult issues. It is not easy to explain some of the issues. I can understand very well the sense of anger over what has occurred, and it is absolutely right to express it. While I understand the various views and ideas presented, we need to offer the people a sense of security and reassurance to allow for a public debate just at this time that respects different opinions and allows people to give details on what are very complex issues.

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