Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

That is lovely. I take your point. I will make my point. How can the Labour Party possibly stand over a right-wing coup? How can it stand over a situation where the right wing in Europe is rewarded and encouraged for the catastrophic failure of its approach? How can a party that follows in the footsteps of Connolly and Larkin enthusiastically sell this treaty to the Irish people? How can the Labour Party in Ireland act in isolation of the Labour parties in Germany, the Netherlands and France - its sister organisations - and of its grassroots in the European Trade Union Confederation? How can the Labour Party in Ireland, enthusiastic members of the European family, ignore its own brothers and sisters on the left within that European family? These are the questions the party must ask itself.

I understand why the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, is so enthusiastic and so passionate in his right-wing fervour today.

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